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Episcopal  Church. 
Digest  of  the  canons 


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FOR    THE    QOVEBNMENT    OK    TUB 


PROTESTANT    EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 


iSniteb  States  of  America, 


PASSED   AND   ADOPTED     IN    GENERAL    CONVENTION,   IN    RICHMOND,    VIRGINIA, 
OCTOBER,    1859: 


TOGETHER    WITH 


Slt)c  (Eonstitutton. 


PUDNEY     &     RUSSELL,     PRINTERS, 

No.  79   JOHN-STREET. 

1860. 


The  undersigned  were  appointed  to  superintend  the  publication  of  the  Digest 
of  the  Canons  as  adopted  by  the  General  Convention,  in  October,  1859.  The  dis- 
tribution is  into  Titles,  Canons  of  each  Title,  Sections  of  Canons,  and  occasionally 
Clauses  of  Sections.  At  the  head  of  the  page  the  Title,  number  of  the  Canon,  and 
the  general  subject,  are  stated.  In  the  margin  is  a  summary  of  the  particular  en- 
actment. 

The  historical  notes  at  the  foot  of  the  page  refer  to  the  Canons  as  they  may  be 
found  in  the  Journal  of  1856.  That  Journal  will,  it  is  presumed,  enable  any  on« 
to  trace  any  particular  Canon,  from  its  origin  through  all  its  modifications,  to 
this  time.  It  was  found  impossible  for  either  of  the  undersigned  to  make  a  com- 
plete historical  notice  of  the  succession  of  each  provision,  within  the  time  prescribed 
for  the  Canons  to  go  into  effect. 

New-York,  Jan.  1,  1860. 

Francis   L.  Hawks 

>  Committee. 
Murray  Hoffman, 


®ablc  of  Contents. 


®l)c  Constittrtion, xxi 

®itle  I. — Of  the   Orders   in   the   Ministry,  and  of  the 

Doctrine  and  Worship  of  the  Church,       .  3 

®itl£  II. — Of  Discipline,         ......  59 

®Ule  III. — Of   the   Organized   Bodies  and   Officers  of 

THE  Church,      ......  86 

Ok  IV. — Miscellaneous,       .        .         .         .         .         .96 


Table    of    Contents. 


®itk   I. — Of  the  Ministry,  Doctrine,   and  Worship. 

PAGB. 

Canon    1. — Of  the  Orders  of  Minisii-y  in  this  Church.. , .'? 

Canon    2. — Of  the  Admission  of  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders 3 

^  I,  —  Who  are  deemed  Candidates 3 

^  II.  —  Notice  of  Intention 3 

()  III.  —  To  whom  Application  must  be  made 4 

i)  IV.  —  Certificate  from  Standing  Committee 4 

i)Y.  —  Habit  of  Devotion 5 

(j  VI.  —  Admission  and  Record 5 

^  VII.  —  Canons  apply  to  Candidates  fi-om  all  parts  of  the  United  States  5 

()  VIII.  —  Application  by  a  Minister  of  another  Denomination 6 

[1.]  Notice  and  Certificate 6 

[2.]  Testimonials  required 6 

(J  IX.  —  Such  Application  by  one  not  a  Citizen 7 

^  X.  —  And  to  Officiate  in  a  Foreign  Language 7 

Canon    3. — Of  Admitted  Candidates 8 

^  I.  —  Supervision  of  Candidates 8 

i)  II.  —  Candidates  acting  as  Lay  Readers 8 

^  III.  —  Candidates  not  eligible  to  General  Convention 9 

(J  IV.  —  Transfer  of  Candidates  to  another  Diocese 9 

^  V.  —  No  Transfer  without  bona  fide  Cause 9 

Canon    4. — General  Provisions  and  Requisites  for  Ordination 10 

(jl.  —  Previous  Application  in  another  Diocese 10 

1^  II.  -    Age  for  Ordination 10 

Period  of  Remaining  a  Deacon 10 

(J  in.  —  Candidates  from  Vacant  Dioceses 10 

^  IV. Ordination  of  one  to  officiate  without  the  Jurisdiction  of  the 

United  States -•  H 

()Y.  —  Liability  of  Presenting  Clergyman 11 

()  VI.  —  Times  of  Ordination coo. 11 

CanoN"    5. — Examination  and  Testimonials  for  Deacon's  Orders,   and 

Ordination   12 

^  I.  —  Examination  by  Bishop  and  Presbyters 12 

<)  II.  —  Period  of  Candidateship 12 

(J  III.  —  Testimonials  from  Standing  Committee 12 

^  IV.  —  Testimonials  to  Standing  Committee '. 13 

^  V.  —  Substitute  for  Testimonials  from  Minister  and  Vestry 14 

ij  VI. Examinations  of  Candidates,  Ministers  in  other  Denominations.   14 

^  VII.  —  Candidate  not  a  Citizen 15 

vii 


Table     of     Contents 


OLitlC   1. — Of  the  Ministry,  Doctrine,  and  Worship  {Continued). 


PAGE. 


Canon    6. — Of  Deacons 15 

^  I.  —  Deacons  subject  to  Control  of  Bishop,  <fec 15 

^  II.  —  [1.]  Restrictions  upon  Settlement 15 

[2.]  And  upon  Officiating 16 

^  III.  —  No  Transfer  to  another  Diocese  without  Request  of  Bishop  ...  16 

Canon    /. — Of  Candidates  for  Priest  s  Orders,  and  their  Ordination..   16 

()\.  —  Examinations,  when  to  be  applied  for 16 

(j  II.  —  [1.]  Admission  of  Deacons  as  Candidates  for  Priest's  Orders. . .    16 
[2.]  Admission  of  Candidates  for  Deacon's  Orders  as  Candi- 
dates for  Priest's  Orders 17 

(j  in.  —  Qualifications — Diploma,  or  Certificate 17 

(j  IV.  —  Dispensation  from  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew 17 

(J  v.  —  Period  of  Candidateship 18 

ij  VI.  —  Pei'iod  of  previous  Study  allowed  to  one  who  has  been  a  Can- 
didate in  another  Denomination 18 

(j  VII.  —  [1.]  The  Three  Examinations  for  Priest's  Orders 18 

Sermons,  Exercises  in  Reading  and-  Delivery 19 

[2.]  Examinations  may  be  before  or  after  admission  to  Deacon's 

Orders 19 

No  Repetition  of  Examinations 19 

^  VIII.  —  Appointment  of,  and  Certificate  by,  Examining  Presbyters  ...    19 

Bishop's  Examination , 20 

(J  IX.  —  Standing  Committee,  when  to  appoint  Examiners 20 

Re-examination  in  such  Case  by  Bishop 20 

^  X.  —  Title  for  Orders  requisite 20 

(j  XL  —  Learning  of  Priests— Dispensation 20 

()  XII.  —  Testimonials  from  Standing  Committee 21 

I)  XIII.  —  Testimonials  to  Standing  Committee  from  Minister  and  Vestry .  22 

Personal  Testimonials  22 

Substitution  allowed 23 

()  XIV.  —  Alteration  as  to  Time  in  case  of  a  Deacon  ordained  such  within 

three  Years 23 

Canon    8. — Of  Ministers  Officiating  in  a  Foreign  Language 23 

Canon   9. — Of  the  Admission  of  Ministers  Ordained  by  Bishops  not  in 

Communion  with  this  Church 24 


Table     of     Contents. 


vittlC   I. — Of  the  Ministry,  Doctrine,  and  Worship  {Continued). 


PAGE. 


Canon    10. — Of  Ministers  Ordained  in  JF'oreign  Countries  by  Bishops  in 

Communion  with  this  Church 25 

^  I.  —  Certificate  requisite  before  Oificiating     26 

Letter  DimiBsory 25 

Subscription,  and  one  Year's  Residence 26 

<)  II.  —  Foreign  Deacons 26 


Canon    1 1 . — Of  Persons  not  Ministers  Officiating 27 

^  I.  —  Evidence  of  being  a  Minister  to  be  furnished 27 

()  II.  —  The  Consent  necessary  for  Officiating  transiently 27 


Canon    12. —  General  Regulations  of  Ministers,  and  their  Duties 27 

(J  I.  —  [1.]  Of  Election  and  Institution 27 

Certificate  of  Election 27 

[2.]  Certificate  to  be  transmitted  for  Record 28 

[3.]  Concerning  Institution 28 

()  II.  —  Certificate  to  Minister  removing  from  one  Diocese  to  another. .   28 

(j  III.  —  Alms  and  Contributions 29 

()  IV.  —  Duty  on  Episcopal  Visitations 29 

[1.]  One  Month's  Notice  to  be  given . . , 29 

List  of  Names  of  Persons  Confirmed 29 

[2.]  Information  to  be  given  of  the  State  of  the  Congregation. .   29 

[3.]  Parochial  Reports 29 

^  V.  —  [1.]  Parish  Register  to  be  kept 30 

[2.]  Register  of  Baptisms 30 

[3.]  List  of  Families 30 

^  VI.  —  [1.]  Ofiiciating  of  Ministers  within  the  Cures  of  others 30 

[2.]  Parish  Boundaries,  not  otherwise  defined 30 

[3.]  Neglect  of  Minister  to  ofiieiate 31 

[4.]  Rights  of  Property  undisturbed 32 

^  VII.  —  [1.]  Of  Clerical  Residence  and  Removal 32 

Form  of  Letter  Dimissory 32 

[2.]  When  such  Letter  shall  affect  Canonical  Residence 32 

When  void 32 

[3.]  When  the  Bishop  may  refuse  to  receive  a  Letter  Dimissory  33 
[4.]  When  Letters  Dimissory  are  not  required 33 


Table     of     Contents. 


Kittle  1. — Of  the  Ministry  Doctrine,  and  Worship  [Continued). 


PAGE. 


Canon    13. — Of  Bishops 34 

ijl.—  [1.]  Election  of  Bishops 34 

Six  Presbyters  and  Six  Parishes 34 

Two  or  more  Dioceses  uniting 34 

[2]  What  is  a  Settlement 34 

^  II.  —  [1.]  Certificates  to  be  produced  by  the  Bishop  elect 35 

Testimony  from  Diocesan  Convention 35 

Testimony  from  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies 35 

[2.]  Consecration 36 

^  HI.  —  [1]  Consecration  during  Recess 36 

Consent  of  Standing  Committees 36 

Consent  of  Bishops 36 

[2.]  Evidence  of  such  Consent 37 

No  Consecration  within  Six  Months  of  General  Convention  37 

<5  IV.  —  Canonical  Age  for  Consecration 37 

^Y.  —  Assistant  Bishops 37 

No  Suffragan  Bishops 37 

<J  VI.  —  Provisional  Bishops 37 

Provisional  to  become  Assistant  Bishop  on  the  Restoration  of 

Suspended  Diocesan 38 

^  VII.  —  Domestic  Missionary  Bishops 38 

[L]  Mode  and  Evidence  of  Election 38 

[2.]  Exercise  of  Episcopal  Functions 38 

Extent  of  Jurisdiction 39 

[3.]  Death,  Resignation,  or  other  Vacnncy 39 

[4.]  Jurisdiction  over  Clergy 39 

Mode  of  Presenting  and  Trying  Clergy 39 

[5.]  Entitled  to  a  Seat  in  the  House  of  Bishops 39 

Eligible  as  a  Diocesan 39 

Power  upon  the  Organization  of  a  Diocese 40 

[6.]  Power  to  appoint  a  Standing  Committee 40 

[7.]  Must  Report  to  General  Convention  and  to  the  Board  of 

Missions 40 

<J  VIII.  —  Foreign  Missionary  Bishops 40 

[L]  Mode  and  Evidence  of  Election 40 

[2.]  Limitation  of  Jurisdiction 41 

No  Seat  in  the  House  of  Bishops 41 

Restriction  upon  Eligibihty  as  a  Diocesan 41 

[3.]  Mode  of  Presenting  and  Trying  such  Bishops 41 

[4.]  Power  to  Ordain  Deacons  or  Presbyters 41 

Testimonials  necessary  in  such  Ca?e 42 


Table     of     Contents. 


ilLulC   1. — Of  the  Ministry,  Doctrine,  and  Worship  {Continued). 
Canon   13. —  Of  Bishops  (Continued). 

<^  VIII.  —  (Continued).  paoe 

[5.]  Power  of  Dispensation 42 

[6.]  Jurisdiction  over  resident  Missionaries  or  Clergymen 43 

[7.]  May  appoint  a  Standing  Committee 43 

[8.]  Trial  of  Ministers 48 

[9.]  Constitution  of  the  Court 44 

[10.]  The  Sentence 44 

[11.]  Report  must  be  made  to  General  Convention  and  Board  of 

Missions 44 

^  IX.  —  Election  of  a  Missionary  Bishop  as  a  Diocesan 44 

[1.]  Concurrence  of  General  Convention 45 

[2.]  Consent    of  Bishops  and    Standing    Committees,  during 

Recess 45 

Notice  of  Election  to  be  given 45 

^  X.  —  Episcopal  Charges  and  Pastoral  Letters 45 

§  XI.  —  Episcopal  Visitations 46 

[l.J  Visitation  at  least  once  in  three  Years 46 

Declining  to  Visit 46 

Council  of  ConciHation 46 

[2.]  Clergy  to  supply  Bishop's  Parish  when  he  is  a  Rector  ...  47 

[3.]  Expenses  of  Visitation  to  be  defrayed  by  the  Diocese 47 

[4.]  Register  of  Episcopal  Acts 47 

^  XII.  —  Of  Episcopal  Residence 47 

<)  XIII.  —  Of  Bishops  temporarily  absent  from  their  Dioceses 47 

^  XIV.  —  Forms  of  Prayer  or  Thanksgiving  for  extraordinary  Occasions  48 

^  XV.  —  Performance  of  Episcopal  Duties  in  vacant  Dioceses,  &c 48 

[1.]  Upon  Invitation  of  the  Convention  or  Standing  Committee  48 

Invitation  temporary  and  revocable 48 

[2.]  Full  Charge  of  another  Bishop,  by  Act  of  the  Convention  49 

[3.]  Only  one  such  Bishop  at  a  Time 49 

<J  XVI.  —  Episcopal  Resignations 49 

[1.]  Desire  to   resign,  to   be  made   known  to   the  House  of 

Bishops 49 

Investigation  may  be  made 49 

[2.]  House  of  Bishops  may  accept  or  refuse  the  Resignation . .   50 

[3.]  Resignation  during  Recess 50 

The  Bishops  to  meet 50 

Mode  in  which  they  are  to  act 50 

[4.]  Resigned  Bishop  not  eligible  to  a  Diocese 51 

[5.]  Bishops  without  Charge  subject  to  General  Convention  . .   61 
[6.]  Resignation  of  suspended  Bishop 61 


Table     of     Contents. 


^ttiC  I. — Of  the  Ministry,  Doctrine,  and  Worship  {Continued). 

PAGE. 

Canon    1 4. — Of  a  List  of  the  Ministers  of  this  Church 52 

1^  I.  —  The  Secretary  of  the  Lower  House  to  keep  a  Register 52 

Diocesan  Lists  to  be  delivered  to  him 52 

()  II.  —  Notification  of  all  admitted  Ministers 52 

Canon    15. — Of  the  Mode  of  securing  an  accurate  View  of  the  State  of 

the  Church 53 

^  I.  —  Parochial  Reports  to  be  made 53 

Clergymen  not  settled  shall  report 53 

()  II.  —  The  Bishop's  Address  at  Convention 54 

{)  III.  —  Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Church   54 

Pastoral  Letter  from  the  House  of  Bishops 54 

To  be  read  to  every  Congregation 55 

(j  IV.  —  Duty  of  Diocesan  Secretaries  to  forward  Documents 55 

^  V.  —  Recommendation  of  a  Tabular  View  of  Parochial  and  Diocesan 

Statistics 55 

Canon    16. — Of  Publishing  authorized  Editions  of  the  Standard  Bible .  56 

Canon    17. — Of  Publishing  Editions  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer  ■  ■  56 

^  I.  —  Certificate  of  Correction  by  one  or  more  Presbyters 56 

{)  II.  —  What  is  the  Standard  Edition 57 

Canon    1 8. — 0/  the  due  Celebration  of  Sundai/s 57 

Canon    19. — Of  Parochial  Instruction 57 

Canon   20. —  Of  the   Use  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer 58 


Table     of     Contents 


®itlC  IL— Of  Discipline. 


PAOE. 

Canon   1 . — Of  Amenability  and  Citations ^9 

<J  I.  —  To  whom  Ministers  are  amenable 59 

()  II.  —  Mode  of  serving  Citations 59 

()  III.  —  Of  Notices  in  General 59 

Canon    2. — Of  Offences  for  which  Ministers  may  be  Tried  and  Pun- 
ished     60 

^  I.  —  Enumeration  of  Punishable  Offences 60 

()  II.  —  Proceedings  on  public  Rumor 60 

Three  kinds  of  Punishment 60,  61 

Canon    3. — Of  a    Clergyman  in  ane  Diocese  chargeable  with  Misde- 
meanor in  another 61 

§  I.  —  Notice  to  Authority  of  Offender's  Diocese 61 

Proceedings  on  a  Neglect  to  act 61 

$  II  —  The  Bishop  may  admonish  and  forbid  Officiating 62 

Notice  of  Prohibition  to  be  given 62 

Prohibition  to  continue  until  the  Bishop  be  satisfied,  or  the 

Clergyman  acquitted  on  Trial 62 

(j  III.  —  The  same  coui"se  to  be  pursued  with  Clergymen  ordainc  1  iu 

Foreign  Countries 62 

Notice  of  Prohibition  to  be  given 62 

Canon    4. — Of  the  Dissolution  of  a  Pastoral  Connection 63 

<J  I.  —  No  Dismissal  of  a  settled  Minister  without  the  Concurrence  of 

the  Ecclesiastical  Authority 63 

No  Minister  shall  leave  without  such  Concurrence    63 

Deprivation  of  Seat  in  Convention  in  either  Case 63 

§11.  —  Record  to  be  made  of  regular  Dissolution 63 

Dissolutions  not  regular,  to  be  laid  before  Convention 63 

This  Canon  not  obligatory  on  certain  Dioceses 63 

Canon    5. — Of  Renunciation  of  the  Ministry 64 

<J  I.  —  Renunciation  when  no  Ecclesiastical  Proceeding  is  pending ...  64 

Renunciation  to  be  recorded 64 

The  Bishop  to  depose,  in  presence  of  Clergymen 64 

§  n.  —  When  the  Bishop  of  another  Diocese  may  sentence 64 

<^  III.  —  The  Bishop  may  suspend  Action  for  Six  Months 64 

i)  IV.  —  Renunciation  under  Liability  to  Presentment 64 

The  Trial  may  proceed 65 

i)Y.  —  Notice  of  Deposition  to  be  sent  to  every  Diocese 65 

xiii 


Table     of     Contents 


^itlC  II. — Of  Discipline  {Continued). 


PAGE. 

Canon    6. — Of  the  Abandonment  of  tlie  Communion  of  this  Church  by 

a  Presbyter  or  Deacon 65 

^  I.  —  Abandonment  without  Renunciation 65 

To  be  certified  by  the  Standing  Committee 65 

Notice  to  be  given  to  the  Minister  concerned 65 

^  II.  —  Deposition  after  Six  Months 66 

The  Bishop  may  suspend  Proceedings,  upon  Retraction 66 

Canon    7. —  Of  a  Clergyman  absenting  himself  fro^n  his  Diocese 66 

Absence  for  two  Years,  without  satisfactory  Reason,  ground  of 

Suspension 66 

How  long  the  Suspension  shall  endure 66 

Notice  of  Suspension  to  be  given  to  every  Diocese 67 

Canon    8. — Of  the  Abandonment  of  the  Communion  of  the  Church  by 

a  Bishop 67 

Deposition 67 

Proceedings  may  be  suspended  on  Retraction 68 

Canon  9. — Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop 68 

ij  I.  —  Enumeration  of  Offences  for  which  a  Bishop  may  be  tried 68 

i^  II.  —  Commencement  of  Proceedings 68 

[1.]  Charges  to  be  made  in  "Writing 68 

By  whom  Charges  must  be  signed 69 

[2.]  A  Bishop  may  demand  a  Trial,  when  there  are  Rumors 

against  him 69 

On  the  Advice  and  Consent  of  any  two  Bishops  whom  he 

may  select 69 

[8.]  Accusers  may  choose  a  Lay  Advocate  and  Agent 69 

Reasonable  Certainty  of  Time,  Place,  and  Circumstance ...  69 

^  III.  —  Charges  shall  be  delivered  to  the  Presiding  Bishop 70 

^  IV.  —  A  Board  of  Inquiry 70 

[1  ]  How  the  Board  shall  be  constituted 70 

[2.]  Notice  to  the  Members  of  the  Board 70 

Place  of  Meeting  of  the  Board 71 

Copy  of  charges  to  be  sent 71 

[3.]  Organization  of  the  Board 71 

Church  Advocate  to  be  appointed 71 

Sittings  of  the  Board  to  be  private 71 

Duty  of  Church  Advocate 71 


xiv 


Table    of    Contents 


^ttl0  II, — Of  Discipline  {Continued). 

Canon    9. — Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop  (Continued). 


PAGE. 


^  IV.  —  {Continued). 

[4.]  Duty  of  the  Board  of  Inquiry 71 

Rules  of  Evidence  shall  be  those  of  the  State  in  which  the 

Trial  is  had 71 

A  Majority  of  the  Board  present  may  make  Presentment . .   71 

[5.]  Copies  of  Presentment  to  be  sent 72 

[6.]  Certificate  of  Rtfusal  to  Present 72 

Such  Certificate  a  Bar  to  future  Presentment 72 

Except  on  Afiidavit  of  New  Testimony 72 

[7.]  Offences  more  than  five  Years  old  not  Presentable 72 

Except  on  Conviction  in  a  State  Court 72 

^  V.  —  Course  of  Action  upon  Presentment 73 

[1.]  Notice  to  the  Accused,  and  to  the  Church  Advocate,  to 

attend  at  the  Selection  of  the  Court 73 

[2.]  Formation  of  the  Court 73 

Eleven  reduced  to  Seven  by  striidng  oflf  alternately 74 

[3.]  Notice  to  Members  of  the  Court  to  attend 74 

Appointment  of  Time  and  Place 74 

Certified  Copies  of  Presentment 74 

[4.]  Summons  of  the  Accused 74 

Any  Bishop  has  power  to  summon  Witnesses 75 

()  VI.  —  Course  of  Proceeding  on  the  Trial 75 

[1.]  Election  of  President  and  Clerk 75 

Reading  the  Presentment 75 

[2.]  Calling  on  the  Accused  to  Plead 76 

Power  to  adjourn 75 

Rights  of  the  Accused 75 

[3.]  Non-appearance  of  the  Accused 75 

Contumacy 76 

Suspension  or  Degradation  after  three  Months'  Contumacy  76 

[4.]  The  Common  Law  the  Rule  of  Proceeding 76 

Declaration  to  be  signed  by  Witnesses  before  Testifying . .   76 

Commission  to  take  Testimony 76 

Appointment  of  Commissary  to  take  Depositions 77 

Cross-examination  in  such  Cases 77 

On  what  Conditions  Depositions  to  be  read 77 

Civil  Authority  given  to  Ecclesiastical  Courts 77 

[5.]  Summoner  to  serve  Notices  and  Papei's 77 

Certificate  of  Service 77 

Mode  of  Service 77 

XV 


Table    of    Contents 


^ttlC  II* — ^^  Discipline  (Continued). 

PAGE. 

Canon    9. — Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop  (Continued). 

^  VI.  —  {Continued). 

[6.]  The  Accused  may  have  Counsel 78 

Counsel  on  either  Side  to  be  Communicants 78 

[7.]  Court  to  express  an  Opinion  on  each  Charge  and  Specifi- 
cation   78 

[8.]  The  Decision  to  be  reduced  to  Writing,  and  signed 78 

[9.]  The  Accused  to  be  heard  before  Sentence 79 

The  Court  may  grant  a  new  Trial 79 

[10.]  Pronouncing  Sentence 79 

Sentence  to  be  communicated  to  every  Clergyman  in  every 

Diocese 79 

[11.]  Record  of  Proceedings  and  Evidence 80 

Exceptions  and  Papers  filed,  to  be  Part  of  the  Kecord.  ...   80 

[12.]  Record  to  be  kept  by  the  Clerk 80 

Attested  by  Signatures  of  P*i'esident  and  Clerk 80 

Deposited  with  Registrar  of  General  Convention 80 

Open  to  Inspection 80 

[13.]  Lay  Advisers  may  be  appointed 80 

Their  Office 80 

^  VII.  —  Proceedings  on  Charge  of  erroneous  Doctrine 81 

[1.]  Presentment  to  be  made  by  any  one  Bishop 81 

The  Presenter  shall  appoint  a  Church  Advocate 81 

[2.]  How  the  Presentment  shall  be  signed,  addressed,  and  de- 
livered       81 

The  Court  to  be  composed  of  all  the  Bishops  except  Pre- 
senter and  Accused 81 

Two-thirds  Vote  necessary  to  convict 81 

^  VIII.  —  [1.]  Proceedings  against  a  Missionary  Bishop 81 

[2.]  Proceedings  against  a  Bishop  without  Jurisdiction 82 


Canon  10. — Of  Sentences 82 

,5,  T.  —  Suspension  must  be  limited  by  specific  Terms  or  Time 82 

<^  II.  —  Degradation "-' 

[1.]  Degradation  not  partial,  but  total 82 

Deposition,  Displacing,  etc.,  same  as  Degradation 82 

No  degraded  Minister  to  be  restored 83 

[2.]  Notice  of  Degradation  to  be  given,  and  to  whom 83 


Table    of    Contents. 


®ttlC  11, — Of  Discipline  {Continued). 


PAOB. 


Canon  11. — Of  the  Remission  or  Modification  of  Judicial  Sentences . . .  83 

The  Bishops  may  altogether  remit  or  modify 83 

Such  Action  to  take  Place  only  at  General  Convention,  or  Meet- 
ing specially  convened 83 

Majority  of  whole  Number  of  Bishops  must  assent 84 

Canon  12. — Regulations  Respecting  the  Laity 84 

§  I.  —  Communicant  removing  shall   procure  a  Certificate  of  Good 

Standing 84 

Rector  of  Parish  not  required  to  receive  a  Communicant  with- 
out such  Certificate 84 

^  11.  —  [1.]  Scandalous  Persons  shall  be  repelled  from  the  Holy  Com- 
munion   84 

[2.]  The  Minister  repelling  shall  inform  the  Ordinary 84 

Inquiry   to   be   made    by  the   Bishop,  on  Complaint    in 

Writing 85 

£3.]  Case  of  great  Heinousness 85 

Deprivation  of  all  Privileges  of  Church  Membership 85 


XV  r. 


Table    of    Contents 


^itU  III, — Of    the    Organized    Bodies    and   Officers    of    the 
Church. 

FAG& 

Canon  1. — Of  the  General  Convention 86 

^  I.  —  Special  Meetings  of  General  Convention 86 

[1.]  To  be  called  by  the  Presiding  Bishop 86 

On  written  Consent  of  a  Majority  of  the  Bishops 86 

[2.]  Place  of  Meeting 86 

[3.]  Who  shall  be  Deputies  at  the  Special  Meeting 86 

^  II.  —  Registrar  of  General  Convention 87 

[1.]  To  be  a  Presbyter 87 

How  Nominated  and  Elected 87 

Shall  have  Charge  of  all  Paper»  and  Documents  belonging 

to  either  House  of  General  Convention 87 

[2.]  Duties  of  Registrar 87 

[3.]  Book  of  Record  of  the  Consecrations  of  Bishops 87 

[4.]  Expenses  of  Registrar  to  be  provided  for 87 

(j  III.  —  When  particular  Notice  shall  be  given   to  the  Ecclesiastical 

Authority  of  every  Diocese 88 

ij  IV.  —  Treasurer  of  General  Convention 88 

His  Duties 88 

How  a  Vacancy  shall  be  filled 88 

^  V.  —  How  the  Expenses  of  General  Convention  shall  be  met 88 

Diocesan  Ratio  of  Payment 89 

Canon  2. —  Of  Standing  Committees 89 

^  I.  —  Standing  Committee  in  every  Diocese 89 

Appointed  by  Diooesan  Convention 89 

Elect  their  own  President  and  Secretary 89 

The  President  to  Summon  Special  Meetings 89 

^  II.  —  To  act  as  the  Bishop's  Council  of  Advice 89 

^  III . —  The  Ecclesiastical  Authority  when  there  is  no  Bishop 89 

Canon  3. — Of  the  Ttmstees  of  the  Missionary  Bishops^  Fund 90 

^  I. How  the  Board  of  Trustees  shall  be  appointed 90 

^  II.  —  Duties  of  the  Trvistees 90 

Objects  of  the  Fund 90 

[1.]  For  Present  Support  of  any  Missionary  Bishop 90 

[2.]  For  Investment,  the  interest  to  be  applied  as  above 90 

[3.]  For  Support  of  Bishops  in  New  Dioceses 90 

[4.]  For  Endowment  of  Episcopate  in  New  Dioceses 90 

(j  III.  —  Application  of  Contributions  not  designated 90 


Table    of    Contents 


xlttlC    111. — Of  the  Organized  Bodies,  etc.  [Continued). 

Canon   3. — Trustees  of  Missionary  Bishops  Fund  (Continued). 

PAGE. 

(jTY  —  Special  Donations  for  the  above  Objects  to  be  paid  over  to  the 

Treasurer  of  the  Board 91 

<5)  V.  —  The  Board  shall  appoint  a  Treasurer 91 

His  Accounts  to  be  open  to  Inspection  of  any  Bishop 91 

^  VI.  —  Triennial  Report  to  General  Convention 91 

To  be  Presented  on  the  Third  Day  of  the  Session 91 

To  be  Referred  to  a  Committee  for  Audit 91 

^  VII.  —  Trustees  empowered  to  procure  an  Act  of  Incorporation 91 

Canon  4. — Of  the  Trustees  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary 92 

Nomination  of  Trustees  not  to  be  confirmed  without  Certificate  92 

Canon  5. — Of  Congregations  and  Parishes 92 

^  I.  —  Unions  of  Congregations  in  different   Dioceses  irregular  and 

void 92 

No  Clergyman  to  sit  in  two  Diocesan  Conventions 92 

<^  II.  —  Parish  Boundaries  and  New  Parishes 93 

[1.]  Left  to  the  Diocesan  Conventions 93 

[2.]  Where  Power  is  vested  until  Diocesan  Conventions  act.    93 

[3.]  Vested  Rights  preserved 93 

•J  in.  —  Congregations  in  Foreign  Lands 93 

[1.]  Lawful  to  Organize 93 

[2.]  Must  recognize  Constitution,  &c 93 

[3.]  Certificate  of  Desii'e  to  be  received  under  Direction  of  the 

General  Convention 94 

[4,]  Certificate  of  Satisfaction  to  be  filed  by  the  Registrar 94 

Jurisdiction  of  Presiding  Bishop 94 

[5.]  Exercise  of  Jurisdiction  mny  be  assigned 94 

[6.]  Clergy  in  such  Congregations  subject  to   Jurisdiction  of 

Presiding  Bishop 94 

Canon  6. — Of  the  Organization  of  New  Dioceses 95 

^1.  —  Who  shall  call  the  Primary  Convention    95 

Where  shall  be  the  Place  of  Meeting 95 

^  II.  —  Who  shall  call  it,  if  there  be  no  Bishop 95 

When  the  Call  shall  be  made 95 

()  III.  —  Case  of  the  Division  of  a  Diocese 95 

Which  Part  shall  be  the  New  Diocese 96 

xix 


Table    of    Contents 


vLttlC   I  V  , — Miscellaneous  Provisions. 


PACK. 


Canon  1.  —  Of  Repealed  Canons 96 

Repeal  of  Repeal,  no  Re-enactment 96 

Canon  2. — Of  the   Repeal,    Amendment,    and   Enactment   of  New 

Canons 96 

Form  of  Altering  Canons 96 

Alterations  in  the  Numbering  of  Canons 96 

Who  are  to  certify  Changes  of  Canons 97 

Canon  3. — Of  the  Time  of  these  Canons  taking  Effect 97 

January  1, 1860 97 

General  Repeal  of  all  other  Canons 97 


END    OF    TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


CONSTITUTION 


€onstitttti0n- 

ADOPTED   IN   GENERAL   CONVENTION, 
In  Philadelphia,  October,   1789. 


Article   1. 

There  shall  be  a  Greneral  Convention  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  on 
the  first  Wednesday  in  October,  in  every  third  year, 
from  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  forty -one  ;  and  in  such  place  as  shall  be  determined 
by  the  Convention  ;  and  in  case  there  shall  be  an  epi- 
demic disease,  or  any  other  good  cause  to  render  it 
necessary  to  alter  the  place  fixed  on  for  any  such  meet- 
ing of  the  Convention,  the  Presiding  Bishop  shall  have 
it  in  his  power  to  appoint  another  convenient  place  (as 
near  as  may  be  to  the  place  so  fixed  on)  for  the  holding 
of  such  Convention  ;  and  special  meetings  may  be  called 
at  other  times,  in  the  manner  hereafter  to  be  provided 
for  ;  and  this  Church,  in  a  majority  of  the  Dioceses 
which  shall  have  adopted  this  Constitution,  shall  be 
represented,  before  they  shall  proceed  to  business  ;  ex- 
cept that  the  representation  from  two  Dioceses  shall  be 
sufficient  to  adjourn  ;  and  in  all  business  of  the  Conven- 
tion freedom  of  debate  shall  be  allowed. 


General  Conven- 
tion. 


Change  of  Place. 


Special  Sleet- 
in  gs. 


Quorum. 


Freedom  of 
Debate. 


CONSTITUTION 


Article   2. 


House  of  Clerical 
and  Lay  Depu- 
ties. 


Vote  by  Dioceses 
and  Orders. 


Dioceses  unrep- 
resented   are 
bound. 


The  Church  in  each  Diocese  shall  be  entitled  to  a 
representation  of  both  the  Clergy  and  the  Laity.  Such 
representation  shall  consist  of  not  more  than  four  Clergy- 
men, and  four  Laymen  communicants  in  this  Church, 
residents  in  the  Diocese,  and  chosen  in  the  manner  pre- 
scribed by  the  Convention  thereof ;  and  in  all  questions 
when  required  by  the  clerical  and  lay  representation 
from  any  Diocese,  each  Order  shall  have  one  vote ;  and 
the  majority  of  suffrages  by  Dioceses  shall  be  conclusive 
in  each  Order,  provided  such  majority  comprehend  a 
majority  of  the  Dioceses  represented  in  that  Order.  The 
concurrence  of  both  Orders  shall  be  necessary  to  consti- 
tute a  vote  of  the  Convention.  If  the  Convention  of 
any  Diocese  should  neglect  or  decline  to  appoint  clerical 
Deputies,  or  if  they  should  neglect  or  decline  to  appoint 
lay  Deputies,  or  if  any  of  those  of  either  Order  appointed 
should  neglect  to  attend,  or  be  prevented  by  sickness  or 
any  other  accident,  such  Diocese  shall  nevertheless  be 
considered  as  duly  represented  by  such  Deputy  or  Depu- 
ties as  may  attend,  whether  lay  or  clerical.  And  if, 
through  the  neglect  of  the  Convention  of  any  of  the 
Churches  which  shall  have  adopted  or  may  hereafter 
adopt  this  Constitution,  no  Deputies,  either  lay  or  cleri- 
cal, should  attend  at  any  Greneral  Convention,  the 
Church  in  such  Diocese  shall  nevertheless  be  bound  by 
the  acts  of  such  Convention. 


CONSTITUTION. 


Article 


o 
O 


The  Bishops  of  this  Church,  when  there  shall  he  three 
or  more,  shall,  whenever  General  Conventions  are  held, 
form  a  separate  House,  with  a  right  to  originate  and 
propose  acts  for  the  concurrence  of  the  House  of  Depu- 
ties composed  of  Clergy  and  Laity  ;  and  when  any 
proposed  act  shall  have  passed  the  House  of  Deputies, 
the  same  shall  he  transmitted  to  the  House  of  Bishops, 
who  shall  have  a  negative  thereupon ;  and  all  acts  of 
the  Convention  shall  he  authenticated  hy  hoth  Houses. 
And  in  all  cases,  the  House  of  Bishops  shall  signify  to 
the  Convention  their  approbation  or  disapprobation  (the 
latter  with  their  reasons  in  writing)  within  three  days 
after  the  proposed  act  shall  have  been  reported  to  them 
for  concurrence  ;  and  in  failure  thereof,  it  shall  have  the 
operation  of  a  law.  But  until  there  shall  be  three  or 
more  Bishops,  as  aforesaid,  any  Bishop  attending  a 
Greneral  Convention  shall  be  a  member  ex  officio,  and 
shall  vote  with  the  clerical  Deputies  of  the  Diocese  to 
which  he  belongs  ;  and  a  Bishop  shall  then  preside. 


Article   4. 

The  Bishop  or  Bishops  in  every  Diocese  shall  be 
chosen  agreeably  to  such  rules  as  shall  be  fixed  by  the 
Convention  of  that  Diocese  ;  and  every  Bishop  of  this 
Church  shall  confine  the  exercise  of  his  Episcopal  Office 
to  his  proper  Diocese,  unless  requested  to  ordain  or  con- 
firm, or  perform  any  other  act  of  the  Episcopal  Office  by 
any  Church  destitute  of  a  Bishop. 


House  of  Bishops 


Negative  upon 
the  Lower  House. 


Jurisdiction  of 
Bishops. 


CONSTITUTION, 


Admission  of 
New  Dioceses. 


Consent  required. 


Limit  of 
Presbyters 
and  Parishes. 


Rights  of  the 
Diocesan.,  and 
the  Assistant 
Bishop. 


Article  5. 

A  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  any  of  the  United 
States,  or  any  Territory  thereof,  not  now  represented, 
may,  at  any  time  hereafter,  be  admitted  on  acceding  to 
this  Constitution :  and  a  new  Diocese,  to  be  formed  from 
one  or  more  existing  Dioceses,  may  be  admitted  under 
the  following  restrictions. 

No  new  Diocese  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the 
limits  of  any  other  Diocese,  nor  shall  any  Diocese  be 
formed  by  the  junction  of  two  or  more  Dioceses,  or  parts 
of  Dioceses,  unless  with  the  consent  of  the  Bishop  and 
Convention  of  each  of  the  Dioceses  concerned,  as  well 
as  of  the  Greneral  Convention. 

No  such  new  Diocese  shall  be  formed  which  shall  con- 
tain less  than  fifteen  self-supporting  Parishes,  or  less 
than  fifteen  Presbyters  who  have  been  for  at  least  one 
year  canonically  resident  within  the  bounds  of  such  new 
Diocese,  regularly  settled  in  a  Parish  or  Congregation, 
and  qualified  to  vote  for  a  Bishop.  Nor  shall  such  new 
Diocese  be  formed  if  thereby  any  existing  Diocese  shall 
be  so  reduced  as  to  contain  less  than  thirty  self-support- 
ing Parishes,  or  less  than  twenty  Presbyters  who  have 
been  residing  therein  and  settled  and  qualified  as  above 
mentioned :  Provided  that  no  city  shall  form  more  than 
one  Diocese. 

In  case  one  Diocese  shall  be  divided  into  two  Dioceses, 
the  Diocesan  of  the  Diocese  divided  may  elect  the  one 
to  which  he  will  be  attached,  and  shall  thereupon  be- 
come th«  Diocesan  thereof.  And  the  Assistant  Bishop, 
if  there  be  one,  may  elect  the  one  to  which  he  will  be 
attached  ;  and  if  it  be  not  the  one  elected  by  the  Bishop, 
he  shall  be  the  Diocesan  thereof. 


CONSTITUTION 


Whenever  the  division  of  a  Diocese  into  two  Dioceses 
shall  be  ratified  by  the  General  Convention,  each  of  the 
tv^^o  Dioceses  shall  be  subject  to  the  Constitution  and 
Canons  of  the  Diocese  so  divided,  except  as  local  circum- 
stances may  prevent,  until  the  same  may  be  altered  in 
either  Diocese  by  the  Convention  thereof.  And  when- 
ever a  Diocese  shall  be  formed  out  of  two  or  more 
existing  Dioceses,  the  new  Diocese  shall  be  subject  to 
the  Constitution  and  Canons  of  that  one  of  the  said 
existing  Dioceses  to  which  the  greater  number  of 
Clergymen  shall  have  belonged  prior  to  the  erection  of 
such  new  Diocese,  until  the  same  may  be  altered  by  the 
Convention  of  the  new  Diocese. 


Article  6. 

The  mode  of  trying  Bishops  shall  be  provided  by  the 
General  Convention.  The  Court  appointed  for  that 
purpose  shall  be  composed  of  Bishops  only.  In  every 
Diocese,  the  mode  of  trying  Presbyters  and  Deacons 
may  be  instituted  by  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese. 
None  but  a  Bishop  shall  pronounce  sentence  of  admoni- 
tion, suspension,  or  degradation  from  the  Ministry,  on 
any  Clergyman,  whether  Bishop,  Presbyter,  or  Deacon. 


Constitution  and 
Canons  of  New 
Diocese. 


Ecclesiastical 
Courts,  Trials, 
and  Sentences. 


CONSTITUTION, 


Requisites  for 
Ordination. 


Declaration. 


Admission  of 
Foreign  Clergy. 


The  Book  of 

Common 

Prayer. 


Alterations  or 
Additions,  how 
to  be  made. 


Article  7. 

No  person  shall  be  admitted  to  Holy  Orders,  until  he 
shall  have  been  examined  by  the  Bishop,  and  by  two 
Presbyters,  and  shall  have  exhibited  such  testimonials 
and  other  requisites  as  the  Canons,  in  that  case  pro- 
vided, may  direct.  Nor  shall  any  person  be  ordained 
until  he  shall  have  subscribed  the  following  Declara- 
tion: 

"  I  do  believe  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  to 
be  the  Word  of  God,  and  to  contain  all  things  necessary  to  salvation  ; 
and  I  do  solemnly  engage  to  conform  to  the  Doctrines  and  Worship  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States." 

No  person  ordained  by  a  foreign  Bishop  shall  be  per- 
mitted to  officiate  as  a  Minister  of  this  Church,  until  he 
shall  have  complied  with  the  Canon  or  Canons  in  that 
case  provided,  and  have  also  subscribed  the  aforesaid 
Declaration. 


Article    8. 

A  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  Administration  of  the 
Sacraments,  and  other  Rites  and  Ceremonies  of  the 
Church,  Articles  of  Religion,  and  a  Form  and  Manner 
of  making,  ordaining  and  consecrating  Bishops,  Priests, 
and  Deacons,  when  established  by  this  or  a  future  Gren- 
eral  Convention,  shall  be  used  in  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  those  Dioceses  which  shall  have  adopted 
this  Constitution.  No  alteration  or  addition  shall  be 
made  in  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  or  other  Offices 
of  the  Church,  or  the  Articles  of  Religion,  unless  the 
same  shall  be  proposed  in  one  Greneral  Convention,  and 
by  a  resolve  thereof  made  known  to  the  Convention  of 
every  Diocese,  and  adopted  at  the  subsequent  General 
Convention. 


CONSTITUTION. 


Article   9. 


This  Constitution  shall  be  unalterable,  unless  in  Gen- 
eral Convention,  by  the  Church,  in  a  majority  of  the 
Dioceses  which  may  have  adopted  the  same  ;  and  all 
alterations  shall  be  first  proposed  in  one  Greneral  Con- 
vention, and  made  known  to  the  several  Diocesan  Con- 
ventions, before  they  shall  be  finally  agreed  to,  or  rati- 
fied, in  the  ensuing  Greneral  Convention. 


Alterations  of 
this  Constitution. 


Article   10. 


Bishops  for  foreign  countries,  on  due  application 
therefrom,  may  bo  consecrated,  with  the  approbation 
of  the  Bishops  of  this  Church,  or  a  majority  of  them, 
signified  to  the  Presiding  Bishop  ;  he  thereupon  taking 
order  for  the  same,  and  they  being  satisfied  that  the 
person  designated  for  the  Office  has  been  duly  chosen, 
and  properly  qualified  :  the  Order  of  Consecration  to 
be  conformed,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  in  the  judgment  of 
the  Bishops,  to  the  one  used  in  this  Church.  Such 
Bishops,  so  consecrated,  shall  not  be  eligible  to  the  Office 
of  Diocesan,  or  Assistant  Bishop,  in  any  Diocese  in  the 
United  States,  nor  be  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  House  of 
Bishops,  nor  exercise  any  Episcopal  authority  in  said 
States. 

Done  in  the  General  Convention  of  the  Bishops, 
Clerffy,  and  Laity  of  the  Church,  the  2d  day  of 
October,  1789. 


Consecration  of 
Bishops  for  For 
eign  Countries. 


CONSTITUTION 


History  of 
Alterations. 


1789. 


1804. 


1841. 


Full  Veto  of  the 
House  of  Bishops. 


1811. 

1829. 
1838. 

1838. 


Note. — When  the  Constitution  was  originally  adopted, 
in  August,  1789,  the  first  Article  provided  that  the 
triennial  Convention  should  he  held  on  the  first  Tues- 
day in  August.  At  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Con- 
vention, held  in  October  of  the  same  year,  it  was  pro- 
vided that  the  second  Tuesday  in  September,  in  every 
third  year,  should  be  the  time  of  meeting.  The  time 
was  again  changed  to  the  third  Tuesday  in  May,  l)y  the 
G-eneral  Convention  of  1804. — See  Bioren's  edition  of 
the  Journals  of  the  General  Convention,  1817,  pp.  61, 
75,  and  216. 

The  first  Article  was  put  into  its  present  form  at  the 
General  Convention  of  1841. 

The  third  Article  was  so  altered  by  the  General  Con- 
vention of  1808,  as  to  give  the  House  of  Bishops  a  full 
Veto  upon  the  proceedings  of  the  other  House. — See 
Journals  of  General  Convention,  pp.  248,  249. 

The  second  sentence  of  the  eighth  Article  was  adopted 
at  the  General  Convention  of  1811. — See  Journals  of 
General  Convention,  p,  274. 

The  words  "or  the  Articles  of  Religion"  were  added 
to  the  eighth  Article  by  the  General  Convention  of  1829, 

The  fifth  Article  was  put  into  its  present  form  at  the 
General  Convention  of  1838. 

The  same  Convention  adopted  the  following  alterations. 
— See  Journal  of  General  Convention  of  1838,  p.  24. 

Strike  out  the  word  "  States  "  wherever  it  occurs  in 
the  first  and  second  Articles,  except  where  it  follows  the 
word  "  United  "  in  the  first  part  of  the  first  Article,  and 
insert  in  lieu  of  the  word  "  States  "  the  word  "  Dioceses." 
Strike  out  the  word  "  States  "  wherever  it  occurs  in  the 
second,  third,  and  fourth  Articles,  and  insert  in  lieu 
thereof  the  word  "  Dioceses." 

Strike  out  the  words  "or  district"  in  the  fourth 
Article, 


J 


CONSTITUTION. 


Strike  out  the  word  "  State  "  in  the  sixth  Article,  and 
insert  the  word  "  Diocese." 

Strike  out  the  word  "  States"  in  the  eighth  Article, 
and  insert  the  word  "  Dioceses ;"  and  in  the  eighth 
Article  strike  out  the  words  "  or  State  "  after  the  words 
"  every  Diocese  " 

Strike  out  the  word  "  States  "  in  the  ninth  Article, 
and  insert  the  word  "  Dioceses."  Strike  out  the  word 
"  State "  in  the  ninth  Article,  and  insert  the  word 
"  Diocesan." 

The  sixth  Article  was  put  into  its  present  form  at  the 
General  Convention  of  1841.  1841. 

Article  10  was  finally  agreed  to,  and  ratified,  in  the 
General  Convention  of  1844.  1844. 

Articles  2  and  5  were  put  into  their  present  form  at 
the  General  Convention  of  1856.  1856. 


title  I. 


Canons  1  and   2 


II, 


title  I. 


OF  THE  ORDERS  IN  THE  MINISTRY,  AND  OF  THE  DOC- 
TRINE AND  WORSHIP  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


Canon   1. 

Of  the  Orders  of  Ministry  in  this  Church. 

In  this  Church  there  shall  always  be  three  Orders  in 
the  ministry,  viz.  :   Bishops,  Priests,  and  Deacons.* 


Canon   2. 

Of  the  Admission  of  Persons  as  Candidates  for  Holy 
Orders. 
k  I.  All  persons  seeking  admission  to  the  ministry  of 
this  Church,  are  to  be  regarded  as  candidates  for  Holy 
Orders." 

§  II.  Every  person  who  desires  to  become  a  candidate 
for  Holy  Orders  in  this  Church,  shall,  in  the  first  in- 
stance, give  notice  of  his  intention  to  the  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese  in  which  he  intends  to  apply  ;  or,  if  there  be  no 
Bishop,  to  the  Standing  Committee  ;  in  which  notice  he 
shall  declare  whether  he  has  ever  applied  for  admission 
as  a  candidate  in  any  other  Diocese.  No  person  who 
has  previously  applied  for  admission  as  a  candidate  in 
any  Diocese,  and  has  been  refused  admission,  or,  having 


Three  Orders  of 
Ministry. 


Who  are  deemed 
Candidates. 


Notice  of  Inten- 
tion 


Adopted  in  1789.  Canon  i.  of  1832.         ■"  ^  1  of  Canon  iii.  of  1856. 


titU  I. 


Canon    2 


III.,    IV. 


Of  the  Admission  of  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders. 


Certificate  re- 
quired. 


been  admitted,  has  afterward  ceased  to  be  a  candidate, 
shall  be  admitted  as  a  candidate  in  any  other  Diocese, 
until  he  shall  have  produced  from  the  Bishop,  or,  if 
there  be  no  Bishop,  from  the  Standing  Committee  of  the 
former  Diocese,  a  certificate,  declaring  the  cause  for 
which  he  was  refused  admission,  or  for  which  he  ceased 
to  be  a  candidate.* 


To  whom  Appli- 
cation must  be 
made. 


§  III.  A  person  desirous  of  becoming  a  candidate  for 
Holy  Orders,  shall  apply  to  the  Bishop,  or,  if  there  be  no 
Bishop,  to  the  Standing  Committee,  of  the  Diocese  in 
which  he  resides,  unless  the  said  Bishop  or  ecclesiastical 
authority  shall  give  their  consent  to  his  application  in 
some  other  Diocese.'' 


Certificate  from 
Standing  Com- 
mittee. 


§  IV.  No  person  shall  be  considered  as  a  candidate  for 
Holy  Orders  in  this  Church,  unless  he  shall  have  pro- 
duced to  the  Bishop  to  whom  he  intends  to  apply  for 
Orders,  a  certificate  from  the  Standing  Committee  of  the 
Diocese  of  the  said  Bishop,  that,  from  personal  knowl- 
edge, or  from  testimonials  laid  before  them,  they  believe 
that  he  is  pious,  sober,  and  honest ;  that  he  is  attached 
to  the  doctrine,  discipline,  and  worship  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church;  a  communicant  of  the  same  ;  and,  in 
their  opinion,  possesses  such  qualifications  as  will  render 
him  apt  and  meet  to  exercise  the  ministry,  to  the  glory 
of  God  and  the  edifying  of  the  Church.  And  when  the 
Standing  Committee  do  not  certify  as  above  from  per- 
sonal knowledge,  the  testimonials  laid  before  them  shall 
be  of  the  same  purport,  and  as  ^uU  as  the  certificate 
above  required,  and  shall  be  signed  by  at  least  one  Pres- 


»  ^  2  of  Canon  iii.  of  1856.  i"  ^  3  of  Canon  iii.  of  1856. 


Canon    2 


§  V.-VI  I 


Of  the  Admission  of  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders. 


byter,  and  four  respectable  laymen  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church.* 

k  V.  It  is  also  to  be  made  known  to  every  candidate, 
for  whatever  order  of  the  ministry,  that  the  Church  ex- 
pects of  him  what  never  can  be  brought  to  the  test  of 
any  outward  standard, — an  inward  fear  and  worship  of 
Almighty  God,  a  love  of  religion,  and  a  sensibility  to  its 
holy  influences,  a  habit  of  devout  affection,  and,  in 
short,  a  cultivation  of  all  those  graces  which  are  called, 
in  Scripture,  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit,  and  by  which 
alone  His  sacred  influences  can  be  manifested." 

§  VI.  The  requisitions  of  this  Canon  being  fulfilled, 
the  Bishop  may  admit  the  person  as  a  candidate  for 
Holy  Orders,  and  shall  record  the  same  in  a  book  to  be 
kept  for  that  purpose,  and  notify  the  candidate  of  such 
record  :  and  in  any  diocese  where  there  is  no  Bishop, 
the  Standing  Committee  may,  on  the  same  conditions, 
admit  the  person  as  a  candidate,  and  shall  make  record 
and  notification  in  the  same  manner." 

§  VII.  The  Canons  of  this  Church  which  respect 
candidates  for  Holy  Orders,  shall  afTect  as  well  those 
coming  from  places  in  the  United  States  in  which  the 
Constitution  of  this  Church  has  not  been  acceded  to,  as 
those  residing  in  States  or  Territories  in  which  it  has 
been  adopted  ;  and,  in  such  cases,  every  candidate  shall 
produce  to  the  Bishop  to  whom  he  may  apply  for  Holy 
Orders,  the  requisite  testimonials,  subscribed  by  the 
Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese  into  which  he  has 
come.'^ 


Habit  of  Devo- 
tion, 


Admission  and 
Record. 


Canons  apply  to 
Candidates  from 
all  parts  of  the 
United  States. 


*  ^  4,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 
=  «J  6,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 


<>  <J  5,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 
^  6  7,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 


€ttle  I. 


Canon    2 


§  VI  I  I  . 


Of  the  Admission  of  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders. 


Application  by  a  \ 
Minister  of  an- 
other Denomina- 
tion. 

Notice. 


Certificate. 


Testimonial  from 
Twelve   Persons, 


And  Two  Presby- 
ters. 


^  VIII.  [1.]  When  a  person,  who,  not  havmg  had  Epis- 
copal Ordination,  has  been  acknowledged  as  an  ordained 
minister  or  licentiate  in  any  other  denomination  of 
Christians,  shall  desire  to  be  ordained  in  this  Church, 
he  shall  give  notice  thereof  to  the  Bishop ;  or,  if  there  be 
no  Bishop,  to  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese  in 
which  he  resides  ;  or,  if  he  reside  in  a  State  or  Territory 
in  which  there  is  no  organized  Diocese,  to  the  Missionary 
Bishop  within  whose  jurisdiction  he  resides  ;  which  no- 
tice shall  be  accompanied  by  a  written  certificate  from 
at  least  two  Presbyters  of  this  Church,  stating  that,  from 
personal  knowledge  of  the  party,  or  satisfactory  evidence 
laid  before  them,  they  believe  that  his  desire  to  leave 
the  denomination  to  which  he  belonged,  has  not  arisen 
from  any  circumstance  unfavorable  to  his  moral  or  reli- 
gious character,  or  on  account  of  which  it  may  be  inex- 
pedient to  admit  him  to  the  exercise  of  the  ministry  in 
this  Church  ;  and  they  may  also  add  what  they  know 
or  believe,  on  good  authority,  of  the  circumstances  lead- 
ing to  the  said  desire.* 

[2.]  If  the  Bishop  or  Standing  Committee  shall  think 
proper  to  proceed,  the  party  applying  to  be  received  as  a 
candidate  shall  produce  to  the  Standing  Committee  a 
testimonial  from  at  least  twelve  members  of  the  denom- 
ination from  which  he  came,  or  twelve  members  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  or  twelve  persons  in  part 
of  the  denomination  from  which  he  came  and  in  part 
Episcopalians,  satisfactory  to  the  Committee,  that  the 
applicant  has,  for  three  years  last  past,  lived  piously, 
soberly,  and  honestly  ;  and  also  a  testimonial  from  at 
least  two  Presbyters  of  this  Church,  that  they  believe 

^  §  8,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 


Canon     2 


§  IX 


Of  the  Admission  of  Candidates  for  Holy  Orders. 


him  to  be  pious,  sober,  and  honest,  and  sincerely  attached 
to  the  doctrine,  discipline,  and  worship  of  the  Church. 
The  Standing  Committee,  being  satisfied  on  these  points, 
may  recommend  liim  to  the  Bishop,  to  be  received  as  a 
candidate  for  Orders  in  this  Church ;  or,  in  a  vacant 
Diocese,  the  Standing  Committee  may  so  receive  him.* 

k  IX.  When  a  person,  not  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  who  has  been  acknowledged  as  an  ordained 
minister  in  any  other  denomination  of  Christians,  shall 
apply  to  become  a  candidate  for  Orders  in  this  Church, 
the  Bishop  to  whom  application  is  made  shall  require 
of  him  (in  addition  to  the  above  qualifications)  satisfac- 
tory evidence  that  he  has  resided  at  least  one  year  in  the 
United  States,  previous  to  his  application.'' 

k  X.  When  a  person,  not  a  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
who  has  been  acknowledged  as  an  ordained  minister  in 
any  other  denomination  of  Christians,  shall  apply  for 
Orders  in  this  Church,  on  the  ground  of  a  call  to  a 
church  in  which  divine  service  is  celebrated  in  a  foreign 
language,  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese  to 
which  such  church  belongs,  may,  on  sufficient  evidence 
of  fitness  according  to  the  Canons,  and  by  a  unanimous 
vote  at  a  meeting  duly  convened,  recommend  him  to  the 
Bishop  for  Orders,  and  the  Bishop  may  then  ordain  him, 
and  he  may  be  settled,  and  instituted  into  the  said 
church,  without  his  producing  a  testimonial  to  his  char- 
acter by  a  clergyman  from  his  personal  knowledge  of 
him  for  one  year,  and  without  his  having  been  a  year 
resident  in  this  country,  anything  in  any  other  Canon 
of  this  Church  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.     Pro- 


Suck  Af plication 
by  one  not  a  Citi- 
zen. 


And  to  officiate  in 
a  Foreign  Lan- 
guage. 


Without  Testi- 
monial or  Resi- 
dence. 


<J  9,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 


"  ^  10,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 


title  I. 


Canon    3 


I.,  II. 


Proviso. 


Supervision  of 
Candidates. 


Lay  Readers. 


Restrictions. 


Of  Admitted  Carididates. 


vided  that,  in  both  of  the  above  cases,  the  person  apply- 
ing produce  a  certificate,  signed  by  at  least  four  respect- 
able members  of  this  Church,  that  they  have  satisfactory 
reason  to  believe  the  testimonials  to  his  religious,  moral 
and  literary  qualifications  to  be  entitled  to  full  credit." 


Canon   3. 

Of  Admitted  Candidates. 
§  I.  The  Bishop,  or  other  ecclesiastical  authority  who 
may  have  the  superintendence  of  Candidates  for  Holy 
Orders,  shall  take  care  that  they  pursue  their  studies 
diligently  and  under  proper  direction,  and  that  they  do 
not  indulge  in  any  vain  or  trifling  conduct,  or  in  any 
amusements  most  likely  to  be  abused  to  licentiousness, 
or  unfavorable  to  that  seriousness,  and  to  those  pious  and 
studious  habits,  which  become  those  who  are  preparing 
for  the  Holy  Ministry.'' 

^  n.  No  candidate  for  Holy  Orders  shall  take  upon 
himself  to  perform  the  service  of  the  Church  but  by  a 
license  from  the  Bishop,  or,  if  there  be  no  Bishop,  from 
the  clerical  members  of  the  Standing  Committee,  of  the 
Diocese  in  which  such  candidate  may  wish  to  perform 
the  service.  And  such  candidate  shall  submit  to  all  the 
regulations  which  the  Bishop,  or  said  clerical  members, 
may  prescribe.  Ho  shall  not  use  the  absolution  or  bene- 
diction ;  he  shall  not  assume  the  dress  appropriate  to 
clergymen  ministering  in  the  congregation  ;  he  shall 
conform  to  the  directions  of  the  Bishop,  or  said  clerical 

^  Last  paragraph  of  Canon  xxiv.,  of  1832. 
"  ^  11,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 


Canon     3 


§  III.-V 


Of  Admitted  Candidates. 


members,  as  to  the  sermons  or  homilies  to  be  read,  nor 
shall  any  Lay  Reader  deliver  sermons  of  his  own  compo- 
sition ;  nor,  except  in  case  of  extraordinary  emergency 
or  very  peculiar  expediency,  perform  any  part  of  the 
service,  when  a  clergyman  is  present  in  the  congrega- 
tion.* 

k  III.  No  person,  who  is  a  candidate  for  Holy  Orders 
in  this  Church,  shall  be  permitted  to  accept  from  any 
Diocesan  convention  an  appointment  as  a  Lay  Deputy 
to  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  of  the  General 
Convention." 


Candidates  not 
eligible  to  Gen- 
eral Convention. 


§  IV.  A  candidate  for  Holy  Orders  may,  on  letters  of 
dismission  from  the  Bishop  or  Standing  Committee  of  the 
Diocese  in  which  he  was  admitted  a  candidate,  be 
transferred  to  the  jurisdiction  of  any  Bishop  in  this 
Church ;  and  if  there  be  a  Bishop  within  the  Diocese 
where  the  candidate  resides,  he  shall  apply  to  no  other 
Bishop  for  ordination  without  the  permission  of  the 
former.* 


Transfer  to  an- 
other Diocese. 


h  V.  Candidates  shall  not  change  their  canonical  resi- 
dence but  for  bona  fide  causes,  requiring  the  same  to  be 
judged  of  by  the  Bishop ;  or,  if  there  be  no  Bishop,  the 
Standing  Committee  ;  and  they  shall  not  be  dismissed 
from  the  Dioceses  in  which  they  were  admitted,  or  to 
which  they  have  been  duly  transferred,  for  the  conve- 
nience of  attending  any  theological  or  other  seminary.* 

»  «J  12,  Canon  iii.,  1856.  b  ^  13,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 

''■  ^  14,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 

^  Last  clause  of  ^  15,  Canon  iii.,  1856. 


Cause  for  Trans- 
fer. 


title  I. 


Canon     4 . 


I.  -Ill 


General  Provisions  and  Requisites  for  Ordination. 


Previous  Appli- 
cation in  another 
Diocese. 


Notice    of     Re- 
jection . 


Canon   4. 

General  Provisions  and  Requisites  for  Ordination. 

§  I.  No  Bishop  shall  ordam  any  candidate  until  he  has 
inquired  of  him  whether  he  has  ever  directly  or  indi- 
rectly applied  for  Holy  Orders  in  any  other  Diocese ; 
and  if  the  Bishop  has  reason  to  believe  that  the  candi- 
date has  been  refused  Holy  Orders  in  any  other  Diocese, 
he  shall  w^rite  to  the  Bishop  of  such  Diocese,  or,  if  there 
be  no  Bishop,  to  the  Standing  Committee,  to  know 
whether  any  just  cause  exists  why  the  candidate  should 
not  be  ordained.  When  any  Bishop  rejects  the  applica- 
tion of  any  candidate  for  Holy  Orders,  he  shall  imme- 
diately give  notice  to  the  Bishop  of  every  Diocese,  or 
where  there  is  no  Bishop,  to  the  Standing  Committee.* 


Age  for  Ordina- 
tion. 


Period  of  remain- 
ing a  Deacon. 


§  H.  Deacon's  Orders  shall  not  be  conferred  on  any 
person  until  he  shall  be  twenty-one  years  old,  nor  Priest's 
Orders  until  he  shall  be  twenty-four  years  old.  No 
Deacon  shall  be  ordained  Priest  unless  he  shall  have 
been  a  Deacon  one  year,  except,  for  reasonable  causes, 
it  shall  otherwise  seem  good  to  the  Bishop.'' 


Candidates  from 
vacant  Dioceses. 


^  ill.  Every  candidate  for  Holy  Orders  who  may  be 
recommended  by  the  Standing  Committee  of  any  Diocese 
destitute  of  a  Bishop,  if  he  have  resided  for  the  greater 
part  of  three  years  last  past  within  the  Diocese  of  a 
Bishop,  shall  apply  to  such  Bishop  for  ordination.  And 
such  candidate  shall  produce  the  usual  testimonials,  as 
well  from  the  Committee  of  the  Diocese  in  which  he  has 


10 


^  16,  Canon  iii.,  1856.  "^  ^  1,  Canon  v.,  1856  ;  Canon  viii.,  1832. 


Canon     4 . 


§  I  V  .  -  V  I 


General  Provisions  and  Requisites/or  Ordination. 


resided,  as  from  the  Committee  of  the  Diocese  for  which 
he  is  to  be  ordained.' 

§  lY.  No  Bishop  of  this  Church  shall  ordain  any  per- 
son to  officiate  as  a  Priest  in  any  congregation  or 
Church  destitute  of  a  Bishop,  situated  without  the  juris- 
diction of  these  United  States,  until  the  usual  testimony 
from  the  Standing  Committee,  founded  upon  sufficient 
evidence  of  his  soundness  in  the  faith,  and  of  his  pious 
and  moral  character,  has  been  obtained,  nor  until  the 
candidate  has  been  examined  on  the  studies  prescribed 
by  the  Canons  of  this  Church  ;  and  should  any  clergy- 
man, so  ordained,  wish  to  settle  in  any  congregation  of 
this  Church,  he  must  obtain  a  special  license  therefor 
from  the  Bishop,  and  officiate  as  a  probationer  for  at 
least  one  year.^ 

^  Y.  A  clergyman  who  presents  a  person  to  the  Bishop 
for  Holy  Orders,  as  specified  in  the  office  for  ordination, 
without  having  good  grounds  to  believe  that  the  requisi- 
tions of  the  Canons  have  been  complied  with,  shall  be 
liable  to  ecclesiastical  censure." 

^  YI.  Agreeably  to  the  practice  of  the  primitive 
Church,  the  stated  times  of  ordination  shall  be  on  the 
Sundays  following  the  Ember  Weeks,  viz.  :  the  second 
Sunday  in  Lent,  the  Feast  of  Trinity,  and  the  Sundays 
after  the  Wednesdays  following  the  14th  day  of  Sep- 
tember and  the  13th  of  December.     Occasional  ordina- 


*  ^  7,  Canon  iv.,  1856. 
'  H2,  Canon  iv.,  1856. 


»>  ^  15,  Canon  v.,  1856. 


Ordination  of  one 
to  officiate  with- 
out the  Jurisdic- 
tion of  the  United 
States. 


Special  License. 


Liability  of  pre- 
senting   Clergy- 


Times   of  Ordi- 
nation. 


11 


title  I. 


Canon     5 . 


§i.-iii, 


Examinatio^i,  etc.^for  Deacon^ s  Orders. 


Examination  by 
Bishop  and  Pres- 
byters. 


tions  may  be  held  at  such  other  times  as  the  Bishop 
shall  appoint." 


Ca  N  0  N     5 . 

Examination  and  Testimonials  for  Deacon^s  Orders, 

and  Ordination. 

k  I.  Every  person  hereafter  to  be  ordained  Deacon  in 
this  Church  shall  be  examined  by  the  Bishop  and  two 
Presbyters,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  ascertain  that  he 
is  well  acquainted  with  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  and  who  shall  inquire  into  his 
fitness  for  the  ministrations  declared  in  the  Ordinal  to 
appertain  to  the  office  of  a  Deacon,  and  be  satisfied 
thereof." 


Period  of  Candi-         ^  ^^-  ^^  person  shall  be  entitled  to  such  examination 
dateshtp.  until    he    shall   have    remained    a    candidate    for   Holy 

Orders  at  least  one  year,  and  shall  have  presented  to  the 
Bishop  a  testimonial  from  at  least  one  rector  of  a  parish, 
signifying  a  belief  that  he  is  well  qualified  to  minister  in 
the  office  of  a  Deacon,  to  the  glory  of  G-od  and  the  edifi- 
cation of  the  Church." 


Testimonials 
from  Standing 
Committee. 


^  HI.  No  person  shall  be  ordained  Deacon  in  this 
Church  unless  he  exhibit  to  the  Bishop  testimonials 
from  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese  for  which 
he  is  to  be  ordained,  which  shall  be  signed  by  the  names 


12 


»  Canon  xx.,  1832.  In  1789  tlie  Canon  was  passed  without  the  last 
clause.  In  1808  this  was  added,  and  the  Canon  has  continued  unchanged 
since  that  time. 

^  (/l,  Canon  iv.,  1856.  '  <5  2,  Canon  iv  ,  1856. 


Canon     5 


I  V 


Examination,  etc.,  for  Deacon's  Orders, 


of  a  majority  of  all  the  Committee,  the  Committee  being 
duly  convened,  and  which  shall  be  in  the  followins: 
words : — 


We,  whose  names  are  hereunder  written,  testify  that  A.  B.  hath  laid 
before  us  satisfautory  testimonials,  that  for  the  space  of  three  years 
last  past,  he  hath  lived  piously,  soberly  and  honestly,  and  hath  not 
written,  taught,  or  held  anything  contrary  to  the  doctrine  or  discipline 
of  the  Pi-otestant  Episcopal  Church  ;  and,  moreover,  we  think  him  a 
person  worthy  to  be  admitted  to  the  sacred  Order  of  Deacons.  In  wit- 
ness  whereof,    we  have   hereunto  set   our  haads  this    day  of 

,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord "  * 

k  IV.  But  before  a  Standing  Committee  shall  proceed 
to  recommend  any  candidate,  as  aforesaid,  to  the  Bishop, 
such  candidate  shall  produce  from  the  Minister  and 
vestry  of  the  parish  where  he  resides,  or  from  the  vestry 
alone  if  the  parish  be  vacant ;  or,  if  there  be  no  vestry, 
from  at  least  twelve  respectable  persons  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  testimonials  of  his  piety,  good  morals, 
and  orderly  conduct,  in  the  following  words : — 

"  We,  whose  names  are  hereunder  written,  do  testify  from  evidence 
satisfactory  to  us,  that  A.  B.,  for  the  space  of  three  years  last  past,  hath 
lived  piously,  soberly,  and  honestly,  and  hath  not,  so  far  as  we  know  or 
believe,  written,  taught,  or  held  any  thing  contrary  to  the  doctrine  or 
discipline  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  ;  and,  moreover,  we  think 
him  a  person  worthy  to  be  admitted  to  the  sacred  Order  of  Deacons. 

In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  this day 

of  —  ■,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord " 

He  shall  also  lay  before  the  Standing  Committee  tes- 
timonials signed  by  at  least  one  respectable  Presbyter  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States, 
in  the  followingr  words  : — 


Testimonials  to 
Standing  Com- 
mittee, 

From  Minister 
and  Vestry. 

Or    Twelve    Per- 
sons. 


Personal    Testi- 
monials. 


^  4,  Canon  iv.,  1856. 


13 


Examination^  etc. ^  for  Deacon^ s  Orders. 


'•I  do  certify,  that  A.  B.,  for  the  space  of  three  years  last  past,  hath 
lived  piously,  soberly,  and  honestly,  and  hath  not,  so  far  as  I  know  or 
believe,  written,  taught,  or  held  any  thing  contrary  to  the  doctrine  or 
discipline  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  ;  and,  moreover,  I  think 
him  a  person  worthy  to  be  admitted  to  the  sacred  Order  of  Deacons. 
This  testimonial  is  founded  on  my  personal  knowledge  of  the  said  A.  B. 
for  one  year  last  past,  and  for  the  residue  of  the  said  time  upon  evidence 
that  is  satisfactory  to  me.  In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
hand  this day  of ,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord, ."  * 


Substitute    for 
Testimonials 
from  Minister 
and  Vestry. 


Examinations  of 
Candidates,  Min- 
isters in  other 
Denominations. 


k  V.  But  in  case  a  candidate,  from  some  peculiar  cir- 
cumstances not  affecting  his  pious  or  moral  character, 
shall  be  unable  to  procure  testimonials  from  the  Minister 
and  vestry  of  the  parish  where  he  resides,  the  Standing 
Committee  may  accept  testimonials  of  the  purport  above 
stated,  from  at  least  twelve  respectable  members  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  from  at  least  one 
respectable  Presbyter  of  the  said  Church,  who  has  been 
personally  acquainted  with  the  candidate  for  at  least  one 
year.'' 

\  VI.  Candidates,  who,  not  having  Episcopal  ordina- 
tion, have  been  acknowledged  as  ordained  or  licensed 
ministers  in  any  other  denomination  of  Christians,  may, 
at  the  expiration  of  not  less  than  six  months  from  their 
admission  as  Candidates,  be  ordained  Deacons,  on  their 
passing  the  same  examinations  as  other  candidates  for 
Deacon's  Orders  ;  and,  in  the  examinations,  special  re- 
gard shall  be  had  to  those  points  in  which  the  denomina- 
tion whence  they  come  differs  from  this  Church,  with  a 
view  of  testing  their  information  and  soundness  in  the 
same  ;  and  also  of  ascertaining  that  they  are  adequately 
acquainted  with  the  Liturgy  and  Offices  of  this  Church ; 


"J  5,  Canon  iv.,  1856. 


•>  (j  6,  Canon  iv.,  1856. 


14 


Canon     6 


§■ 


1 1 


Of  Deacons. 


provided,  that  in  their  case  the  testimonials  shall  be  re- 
quired to  cover  only  the  time  since  their  admission  as 
candidates  for  Holy  Oi'ders.* 

k  YII.  When  any  person,  not  a  citizen  of  the  United      Candidate  not  a 
States,  who  has  been  acknowledged  as  an  ordained  or      Citizen. 
licensed  minister  in  any  other  denomination  of  Christians, 
shall  apply  for  Orders  in  this   Church,  the  Bishop,  to 
whom  application  is  made,  shall  require  of  him  (in  ad- 
dition to  the  above  qualifications)  satisfactory  evidence 
that  he  has  resided  at  least  one  year  in  the  United  States      q^^  Year's  R 
previous  to  his  application."  idence. 


Canon   6. 

Of  Deacons. 

§  I.  Every  Deacon  shall  be  subject  to  the  regulation 
of  the  Bishop,  or,  if  there  be  no  Bishop,  of  the  clerical 
members  of  the  Standing  Committee,  of  the  Diocese  for 
which  he  is  ordained,  until  he  receive  letters  of  dismis- 
sion therefrom  to  the  Bishop  or  ecclesiastical  authority 
of  some  other  Diocese,  and  be  thereupon  received  as  a 
clergyman  of  such  other  Diocese  ;  and  he  shall  officiate 
in  such  places  as  the  Bishop,  or  the  said  clerical  mem- 
bers, may  direct." 


Deacons   subject 
to  Control    of 
Bishop,  j-c. 


§  11.  [1.]  No  Deacon  shall  be  settled  over  a  parish,  or 
congregation,  until  he  shall  have  satisfactorily  passed 
the  three  examinations  required  for  Priest's  Orders. 

»  {}  3,  Canon  iv.,  1856.      ^  ^  8,  Canon  iv.,  1856.     <^  ^  11,  Canon  iv.,  1856. 


Restrictions  upon 
Settlement, 


15 


^itk  I. 


Canon     7. 


I.  ,   1 1 


Of  Candidates  for  Priest's  Orders,  etc. 


And  upon  Offici-         [^']   ^^  Deacon  shall  officiate  in  any  parish,  or  con- 

ating.  gregation,  without  the  express  consent  of  the  Rector  for 

the  time  being,  where  there  is  a  Rector ;  nor  in  any  case 
without  the  assent  of  the  Bishop ;  and  when  officiating 
in  the  parish  or  congregation  of  a  Rector,  he  shall  be  en- 

Suhject    to    the    tirely  subject  to  the  direction  of  such  Rector  in  all  his 

Rector.  ministrations.* 

No    Transfer  ^  HI-  No  Deacon,  who  shall  not  have  passed  the  ex- 

withont  Request     aminations  required  for  Priest's  Orders,  shall  be  trans- 
of  Bishops.  ferred  to  another  Diocese  without  the  written  request  of 

the  Bishop  to  whose  jurisdiction  he  is  to  be  transferred." 


Examinations, 
■when  to  he  ap- 
plied for. 


Canon   7. 

Of  Candidates  for  PriesVs  Orders,  and  their  Ordination. 

§  I.  If  any  candidate  for  Priest's  Orders  shall  not, 
within  three  years  after  his  admission,  apply  to  have  the 
first  and  second  examinations  held  as  hereinafter  pre- 
scribed, or  if  he  shall  not,  within  five  years  from  his  ad- 
mission, apply  to  have  the  third  examination  held, 
(unless  the  Bishop,  for  satisfactory  reasons,  to  him  as- 
signed, shall  allow  him  further  time,)  the  said  person 
shall,  in  either  case,  cease  to  be  a  candidate." 


Admission 
of  Deacons,   as 
Candidates  for 
Priest's  Orders. 


k  11.  [1.]  Every  Deacon  of  this  Church'may  be  ad- 
mitted, by  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  to  which  he  belongs, 
on  the  recommendation  of  the  Standing  Committee,  (or, 
where  there  is  no  Bishop,  by  the  Standing  Committee,) 


16 


»  ()  9,  Canon  iv.,  1856.    "  §  10,  Canon  iv.,  1856.    ■=  ^  14,  Canon  v.,  1856. 


Canon     7 


§11 


I  V 


Of  Candidates  for  Priest's  Orders,  etc. 


a   candidate  for   Priest's  Orders,    provided  he  have  the 
qualifications  hereinafter  required. 

[2.]  A  candidate  for  Deacon's  Orders  may,  in  like 
manner,  and  upon  the  same  terms,  be  admitted  a  candi- 
date for  Priest's  Orders,  provided  he  do  not  require  the 
dispensation  hereafter  allow^ed.* 

k  III.  Every  person  wishing  to  become  a  candidate  for 
Priest's  Orders,  must  lay  before  the  Standing  Committee 
a  satisfactory  diploma,  or  other  satisfactory  evidence, 
that  he  is  a  graduate  of  some  University,  or  College;  or 
a  certificate  from  two  Presbyters  appointed  by  the 
Bishop  (or,  where  there  is  no  Bishop,  by  the  clerical  mem- 
bers of  the  Standing  Committee),  to  examine  him,  of  his 
having  satisfactorily  sustained  an  examination  in  Natural 
Philosophy,  Moral  Philosophy,  and  Rhetoric,  and  in  the 
Grreek  Testament,  and  the  Latin  tongue.^ 

§  IV.  When  a  Deacon,  applying  to  be  admitted  a  can- 
didate for  Priest's  Orders,  wishes  a  knowledge  of  the 
Latin,  Grreek,  and  Hebrew  languages,  and  other  branches 
of  learning  not  strictly  ecclesiastical,  to  be  dispensed 
with,  the  Standing  Committee  shall  not  recommend  him 
as  a  candidate,  until  he  shall  have  laid  before  them  a 
testimonial  signed  by  at  least  two  Presbyters  of  this 
Church,  stating  that,  in  their  opinion,  he  possesses  ex- 
traordinary strength  of  natural  understanding,  a  peculiar 
aptitude  to  teach,  and  a  large  share  of  prudence  ;  and 
the  Bishop,  with  the  consent  of  the  Standing  Committee, 
shall  have  granted  the  dispensation.     But  in  regard  to  a 


Admission  of 
Candidates  for 
Deacon's  Orders 
as  Candidates  for 
Priesfs  Orders. 

Qualifica'.inns. 
Diploma. 


Certificate     of 
Examination. 


Dispensation 
from   Latin, 


(J  1,  Canon  v.,  1856, 


''  ^  3,  Canon  v..  1856. 


title  I. 


Canon    7 


V.    -VII, 


Of  Candidates  for  Priesfs  Orders,  etc. 


Hebrew. 


Period  of  Cundi- 
dateship. 


Period  of  Pre- 
vious  Study    al- 
lowed Candidates 
from    other   De- 
nominations. 


Not  to  exceed  two 
Years. 

Three  Examina- 
tions/or Priest's 
Orders. 


First. 


knowledge  of  the  Hebrew    language,  in  all  cases  the 
Bishop  shall  have  the  sole  discretion  of  dispensation." 

§  V,  If,  after  obtaining  the  canonical  testimonials 
from  the  Standing  Committee,  the  person  be  admitted 
as  a  candidate,  he  shall  remain  a  candidate  for  the  term 
of  three  years  before  his  ordination  as  Priest,  unless  the 
Bishop,  with  the  consent  of  the  Standing  Committee, 
shall  deem  it  expedient  to  ordain  the  candidate  after  the 
expiration  of  a  shorter  period,  not  less  than  one  year.'' 

k  VI.  Every  person  who  has  been  a  candidate  for  the 
ministry  of  any  other  denomination,  and  has  been  re- 
ceived as  a  candidate  for  Priest's  Orders  in  this  Church, 
may  be  allowed,  by  the  Bishop,  with  the  consent  of  the 
members  of  the  Standing  Committee,  the  period  of  time 
during  which  he  has  been  a  student  of  theology  or  can- 
didate in  such  other  denomination,  provided  the  time  so 
allowed  does  not  exceed  two  years." 

§  VII.  [1.]  There  shall  be  assigned  to  every  candidate 
for  Priest's  Orders,  three  different  examinations,  at  such 
times  and  places  as  the  Bishop  to  whom  he  applies  for 
Holy  Orders  shall  appoint.  The  examination  shall  take 
place  in  the  presence  of  the  Bishop  and  two  or  more 
Presbyters,  on  the  following  studies  prescribed  by  the 
Canons,  and  by  the  course  of  study  established  by  the 
House  of  Bishops.  The  first  examination  shall  be  on 
the  books  of  Scripture,  the  candidate  being  required  to 
sive  an  account  of  the  different  books,  to  translate  from 


'  ^  4  Canon  v.,  1856.     •>  <J  5,  Canon  v.,  1856.    '  ()  6,  Canon  v.,  1856 


Canon  7. 


§  VII  I 


Of  Candidates  for  Priest's  Orders,  etc. 


the  original  Greek  and  Hebrew,  and  to  explain  such 
passages  as  may  be  proposed  to  him.  The  second  ex- 
amination shall  be  on  the  evidences  of  Christianity  and 
systematic  Divinity  :  and  the  last  examination  shall  be 
on  Church  History,  Ecclesiastical  Polity,  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  and  the  Constitution  and  Canons  of  the 
Church,  and  of  the  Diocese  for  which  he  is  to  be  or- 
dained. In  the  choice  of  books  on  the  above  subjects, 
the  candidate  is  to  be  guided  by  the  course  of  study 
established  by  the  House  of  Bishops.  At  each  of  the 
forementioned  examinations,  he  shall  produce  and  read 
a  sermon  or  discourse,  composed  by  himself,  on  some 
passage  of  Scripture,  previously  assigned  to  him,  which, 
together  with  two  other  sermons  or  discourses  on  some 
passage  or  passages  of  Scripture  selected  by  himself,  shall 
be  submitted  to  the  criticisms  of  the  Bishop  and  clergy 
present:  and  before  his  ordination  he  shall  be  required 
to  perform  such  exercises  in  reading  in  the  presence  of 
the  Bishop  and  clergy,  as  may  enable  them  to  give  him 
such  advice  and  instructions  as  may  aid  him  in  perform- 
ing the  services  of  the  Church,  and  delivering  his  ser- 
mons with  propriety  and  devotion. 

[2.]  Such  examinations  may  take  place  either  before 
or  after  the  admission  of  the  candidate  to  Deacon's 
Orders.  Nothing  in  this  Canon  shall  be  construed  to 
require  any  person  who  has  already  passed  any  exami- 
nation to  repeat  the  same.* 

§  Vin.  The  Bishop  may  appoint  some  of  his  Presby- 
ters to  conduct  the  above  examinations,  and  a  certificate 

»  ()  11,  Canon  v.,  1856. 


Second. 
Third. 


Sermons. 


Exercises  in 
Reading. 


Period  of  Exam- 
inations. 


No  Repetition. 


Appointment  of, 
and  Certificate  by, 
Examining  Pres- 
byters. 

19 


title  I. 


Canon     7 . 


§  I  X  .  -  X  I 


Bishop's  Exam- 
ination. 


Standing  Com- 
mittee, when  to 
act. 

Re  -  examination 
in  such  Case. 


Title  for  Orders. 


Learning    of 
Priests. 


20 


Of  Candidates  for  Priesfs  Orders,  etc. 


from  these  Presbyters,  that  the  prescribed  examinations 
have  been  held  accordingly,  and  satisfaction  given,  shall 
be  required  of  the  candidate  :  provided  that,  in  this  case, 
the  candidate  shall,  before  his  ordination,  be  examined 
by  the  Bishop,  and  two  or  more  Presbyters,  on  the  above 
studies." 

S  IX.  In  a  Diocese  where  there  is  no  Bishop,  the 
Standing  Committee  shall  act  in  his  place,  in  appointing 
the  examining  Presbyters  required  by  this  Canon.  And 
in  this  case,  the  candidate  shall  again  be  examined  by 
the  Bishop  to  whom  he  applies  for  Holy  Orders,  and  two 
or  more  Presbyters,  on  the  studies  prescribed  by  the 
Canons.'' 

k  X.  No  person  shall  be  ordained  Priest  unless  he  shall 
produce  to  the  Bishop  a  satisfactory  certificate  from 
some  Church,  Parish,  or  Congregation,  that  he  is  en- 
gaged with  them,  and  that  they  will  receive  him  as 
their  minister  :  or,  unless  he  be  a  missionary  under  the 
ecclesiastical  authority  of  the  Diocese  to  which  he  be- 
longs, or  in  the  employment  of  some  Missionary  Society 
recognized  by  the  General  Convention  ;  or  unless  he  be 
engaged  as  a  professor,  tutor,  or  instructor  of  youth  in 
some  college,  academy,  or  other  seminary  of  learning, 
duly  incorporated." 

§  XI.  No  person  shall  be  ordained  Priest  in  this 
Church  until  he  shall  have  satisfied  the  Bishop  and 
Presbyters  by  whom  he  shall  be  examined,  that  he  is 

»  (j  12,  Oanon  t.,  1856.    •>  (j  13,  Canon  v.,  1856.    <=  (J  10,  Canon  v,  1856. 


Of  Candidates  for  Priesfs  Orders,  etc. 


well  acquainted  with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  can  read  the 
Old  Testament  in  the  Hebrew  language,  and  the  New 
Testament  in  the  original  Greek ;  is  adequately  ac- 
quainted with  the  Latin  tongue,  and  that  he  hath  a 
competent  knowledge  of  natural  and  moral  philosophy, 
and  of  Church  history,  and  hath  paid  attention  to  com- 
position and  pulpit  eloquence,  as  a  means  of  giving 
additional  efficiency  to  his  labors ;  unless  the  Bishop, 
with  the  consent  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  his 
Diocese,  shall  have  dispensed  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
Latin  and  Grreek  languages,  and  other  branches  of 
knowledge  not  strictly  ecclesiastical,  in  consideration  of 
such  other  qualifications  for  the  Gospel  ministry  as  are 
set  forth  in  Section  IV.  of  this  Canon.  The  dispensation 
with  the  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  language,  to  be  re- 
garded as  in  that  Section.* 


Dispensation. 


§  XH.  No  person  shall  be  ordained  a  Priest  in  this 
Church  until  he  shall  have  exhibited  to  the  Bishop  tes- 
timonials from  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese 
for  which  he  is  to  be  ordained,  which  shall  be  signed  by 
the  names  of  a  majority  of  all  the  Committee,  the  Com- 
mittee being  duly  convened,  and  shall  be  in  the  following 
words  : — " 


Testimonials 
from    Standing. 
Committee. 


"  We,    whose  names    are   underwritten,    members   of  the   Standing 

Committee  of  the  Diocese  of ,  do  testify  that  A.  B.  hath  laid 

before  us  satisfactory  testimonials,  that,  for  the  space  of  three  years  last 
past,  he  hath  lived  piously,  soberly,  and  lionestly,  and  hath  not  written, 
taught,  or  held  any  thing  contrary  to  the  doctrine  or  discipline  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  ;  and,  moi'eover,  we  think  him  a  person 
worthy  to  be  admitted  to  the  sacred  Order  of  Priests.    In  witness  where- 


Canon  v,  1856. 


b   (^  7,  Canon  v.,  1856. 


21 


title  I. 


Canon    7  . 


XIII 


Of  Candidates  for  Pi'iesfs  Or^ders,  etc. 


-,  in  the 


Testimonials 
to  Standing  Com- 
mittee from  Min- 
ister and  Vestry. 


of,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  this day  of - 

year  of  our  Lord ." 


^  XJII.  But  before  the  Standing  Committee  shall  pro- 
ceed to  recommend  any  candidate,  as  aforesaid,  to  the 
Bishop,  such  candidate  shall  produce  from  the  Minister 
and  Vestry  of  the  parish  where  he  resides,  or,  if  the 
parish  be  vacant,  or  if  the  applicant  be  the  minister  of 
the  parish  (a  Deacon  desirous  of  Priest's  orders),  from 
the  Vestry  alone,  testimonials  of  his  piety,  good  morals, 
and  orderly  conduct,  in  the  following  words  : — 


Personal 
monials. 


Testi- 


"  We,  whose  names  are  hereunder  written,  do  testify  that  A.  B.,  for  the 
space  of  three  years  last  past,  hath  lived  piously,  soberly,  and  honestly, 
and  hath  not,  so  far  as  we  know  or  believe,  written,  taught,  or  held  any 
thing  contrary  to  the  doctrine  or  discipline  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  ;  and,  moreover,  we  think  him  a  person  worthy  to  bo  admitted 
to  the  sacred  Order  of  Priests.  In  witness  whereof,  we  have  hereunto  set 
our  hands   this day  of ,  in   the   year   of  our   Lord 


He  shall  also  lay  before  the  Standing  Committee  tes- 
timonials signed  by  at  least  one  respectable  Presbyter  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  in 
the  following  form  : — 

"  I  do  certify,  that  A.  B.,  for  the  space  of  three  years  last  past,  has 
lived  piously,  soberly,  and  honestly,  and  has  not,  so  far  as  I  know  or 
believe,  written,  taught,  or  held  any  thing  contrary  to  the  doctrine  or 
discipline  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church ;  and,  moreover,  I  think 
him  a  person  woi-thy  to  be  admitted  to  the  sacred  Order  of  Deacons. 
This  testimonial  is  founded  on  my  personal  knowledge  of  the  said  A.  B. 
for  one  year  last  past,  and  for  the  residue  of  the  said  time  upon  evidence 
that  is  satisfactory  to  me.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
hand  this    day   of  ,  in  the    year  of    our    Lord 


22 


=■  ()  5,  Canon  iv.,  1856. 


Canon     8. 


Of  Miiiisters  Officiating  in  a  Foreign  Language. 


Under  the  circumstances  mentioned  in  Section  V.  of 
said  Canon  5,  or  if  there  should  be  no  vestry,  the  cer- 
tificate provided  for  in  that  Section  may  be  substituted 
for  the  one  above  mentioned." 

§  XIV.  In  the  case  of  a  candidate  for  Priest's  Orders, 
who  has  been  ordained  a  Deacon  within  three  years  pre- 
ceding, the  testimonials  may  be  so  altered  as  to  extend 
to  such  portion  only  of  the  three  years  preceding  his  ap- 
plication for  Priest's  Orders,  as  have  elapsed  since  his 
ordination  as  Deacon  ;  and  the  Standing  Committee 
shall  allow  the  testimonials  so  altered  the  same  effect  as 
if  in  the  form  prescribed,  and  shall  sign  their  own  testi- 
monial, in  such  altered  form,  with  the  same  effect  as  if 
in  the  form  prescribed,  unless  some  circumstance  shall 
have  occurred  that  tends  to  invalidate  the  force  of  the 
evidence  on  which  the  candidate  was  ordained  Deacon.^ 


Substitution    al- 
lowed. 


Alteration  as  tn 
Time. 


Canon   8. 

Of  Ministers  Officiating  in  a  Foreign  Language. 

When  a  clergyman,  coming  from  a  foreign  country, 
and  professing  to  be  regularly  ordained,  shall  be  called 
to  a  Church  of  this  communion,  in  which  Divine  Service 
is  celebrated  in  a  foreign  language,  he  may,  with  the 
approbation  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  in  which  such 
Church  is  situated,  acting  with  the  advice  and  consent 
of  the  Standing  Committee,  or  with  the  unanimous  con- 
sent of  the  Standing  Committee  if  there  be  no  Bishop, 
and,  on  complying  with  the  other  requisitions  of  the 


'  ()  8,  Canon  v..  1856. 


t  i)  9,  Canon  v.,  1856. 


Ministers  Offici- 
ating in  a  For- 
eign Language. 


23 


title  I. 


Canon   9 


May  settle. 


Ministers    or- 
dained by  Bish- 
ops not  in  Com- 
munion   with 
this  Church. 


May  be  received. 


24 


Of  the  Admission  of  Ministers,  etc. 


Canons,  settle  in  the  said  Church,  as  the  minister  thereof, 
without  having  resided  one  year  in  the  United  States, 
any  thing  in  these  Canons  to  the  contrary  notwithstand- 
ing.' 


Canon   9. 

Of  the  Admission  of  Ministers  ordained  by  Bishops  not 
in  Communion  with  this  Church. 

When  a  Deacon  or  Priest  ordained  by  a  Bishop  not  in 
communion  with  this  Church,  shall  apply  to  a  Bishop 
for  admission  into  the  same  as  a  minister  thereof,  he 
shall  produce  a  written  certificate  from  at  least  two 
Presbyters  of  this  Church  stating,  that  from  personal 
knowledge  of  the  party,  or  satisfactory  evidence  laid 
before  them,  they  believe  that  his  desire  to  leave  the 
communion  to  which  he  has  belonged,  has  not  arisen 
from  any  circumstance  unfavorable  to  his  moral  or  reli- 
gious character,  or  on  account  of  which  it  may  be  inex- 
pedient to  admit  him  to  the  exercise  of  the  ministry  in 
this  Church  ;  and  he  shall  also,  not  less  than  six  months 
after  his  application,  in  the  presence  of  the  Bishop  and 
two  or  more  Presbyters,  subscribe  the  declaration  con- 
tained in  Article  VII.  of  the  Constitution  ;  which  being 
done,  the  Bishop,  being  satisfied  of  his  theological  ac- 
quirements, may  receive  him  as  such  minister." 


»  Canon  xxiv.,  1832. 


b  Canon  x.,  1841. 


Canon    10. 


§1 


Of  Ministers  ordained  in  Foreign  Countries,  etc. 


Canon  10. 

Of  Ministers  ordained  in  Foreign  Countries  by  Bishops 
in  Communion  ivith  this  Church. 

k  I.  A  clergyman  coming  from  a  foreign  country,  and 
professing  to  have  been  ordained  out  of  the  United 
States  by  a  foreign  Bishop  in  communion  with  this 
Church,  or  by  a  Bishop  consecrated  for  a  foreign  country 
by  Bishops  of  this  Church  under  Article  X.  of  the  Con- 
stitution, or  by  a  Missionary  Bishop  elected  to  exercise 
Episcopal  functions  in  any  place  or  places  out  of  the 
United  States,  shall,  before  he  be  permitted  to  officiate 
in  any  parish  or  congregation,  exhibit  to  the  minister, 
or  if  there  be  no  minister  to  the  Vestry  thereof,  a  certi- 
ficate signed  by  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  or  if  there 
be  no  Bishop  by  the  Standing  Committee  duly  convened, 
that  his  letters  of  Holy  Orders  are  authentic,  and  given 
by  some  Bishop  in  communion  with  this  Church,  and 
verbose  authority  is  acknowledged  by  this  Church  ;  and 
also  that  he  has  exhibited  to  the  Bishop  or  Standing 
Committee  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  pious  and  moral 
character,  and  of  his  theological  acquirements  ;  and  in 
any  case,  before  he  shall  be  permitted  to  settle  in  any 
Church  or  Parish,  or  be  received  into  union  with  any 
Diocese  of  this  Church  as  a  minister  thereof,  he  shall 
produce  to  the  Bishop,  or  if  there  be  no  Bishop  to  the 
Standing  Committee  thereof,  a  letter  of  dismission  from 
under  the  hand  and  seal  of  the  Bishop  with  whose  Dio- 
cese he  has  been  last  connected  ;  which  letter  shall  be, 
in  substance,  that  provided  for  in  Section  VII.  of  Canon 
12  of  this  Title,  and  shall  be  delivered  within  six  months 


Ministers  Or- 
dained in  Fo- 
reign Countries 
by  Bishops  in 
Communion 
with  this  Church. 


Certificate. 


Letter   Dimisso- 
ry. 


25 


title  I. 


Canon    10 


1 1 


Of  Ministers  ordained  in  Foreign  Countries^  etc. 


from  the  date  thereof ;  and  when  such  clergyman  shall 
have  been  so  received,  he  shall  be  considered  as  having 
passed  entirely  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Bishop  from 
whom  the  letter  of  dismission  was  brought,  to  the  full  juris- 
diction of  the  Bishop  or  other  ecclesiastical  authority  by 
whom  it  shall  have  been  accepted,  and  become  thereby 
subject  to  all  the  canonical  provisions  of  this  Church ; 
Subscription.  Provided,  that  no  such  clergyman  shall  be  so  received 
into  union  with  any  Diocese  until  he  shall  have  sub- 
scribed, in  the  presence  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  in 
which  he  applies  for  reception,  and  of  two  or  more  Pres- 
byters, the  declaration  contained  in  Article  VII.  of  the 
Constitution  ;  which  being  done,  said  Bishop  or  Standing 
Committee,  being  satisfied  of  his  theological  acquire- 
ments, may  receive  him  into  union  with  this  Church  as 
Res-  a  minister  of  the  same  ;  Provided,  also,  that  such  minis- 
ter shall  not  be  entitled  to  settle  in  any  Parish  or  Church, 
as  canonically  in  charge  of  the  same,  until  he  shall  have 
resided  one  year  in  the  United  States  subsequent  to  the 
acceptance  of  his  letter  of  dismission. 


One  Year's 
idence. 


Foreign  Dea-  ^  H-   -A-nd  if  such  foreign  clergyman  be  a  Deacon,  he 

cons.  shall  reside  in  this  country  at  least  three  years,  and  ob- 

tain in  this  country  the  requisite  testimonials  of  charac- 
ter, before  he  be  ordained  a  Priest,* 

»  Canon  ix.,  1844. 


20 


Of  Pcrso7is  not  Ministers  officiating 


Canon  11. 

Of  Persons  not  Ministers  officiating. 

§  I.  No  person  shall  be  permitted  to  officiate  in  any 
congregation  of  this  Church  without  first  producing  the 
evidence  of  his  being  a  Minister  thereof  to  the  Minister, 
or,  in  case  of  vacancy  or  a,bsence,  to  the  Church  war- 
dens, vestrymen,  or  trustees  of  the  congregation.^ 

§  II.  No  Minister  shall  officiate  transiently  in  a  va- 
cant Parish,  or  in  one  the  Rector  or  Minister  of  which 
is  sick  or  absent,  unless  the  Wardens  or  Vestry  are  sat- 
isfied he  is  at  the  time  a  Minister  in  good  and  regular 
standing.  When  from  another  Diocese,  letters  com- 
mendatory from  the  ecclesiastical  authority  thereof  may 
be  required.'' 


Canon  12. 

General  Regulations  of  Ministers  and  their  Duties. 

^  I.  [1.]  It  is  hereby  required,  that  on  the  election  of  a 
Minister  into  any  Church  or  Parish,  the  Vestry  shall  de- 
liver, or  cause  to  be  delivered,  to  the  Bishop,  or  where 
there  is  no  Bishop  to  the  Standing  Committee  of  the 
Diocese,  notice  of  the  same,  in  the  following  form,  or 
to  this  effect  : — 

"  We,  the  Church  Wardens  (or,  in  case  of  an  Assistant  Minister,  We, 
the  Rector  and  Church  Wardens),  do  certify  to  the  Right  Rev.  (naming 
the  Bishop),  or  to  the  Rev.  {naming  the  President  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee), that  {naming  the  person)  has  been  duly  chosen  Rector  {or  Assist- 
ant Minister,  as  the  case  may  be)  of  {naming  the  Parish  or  Church). 


Evidence  of  be- 
ing a  Minister 
to  be  furnished. 


The  Consent  ne- 
cessary for  Offi- 
ciating. 


Election  and  In- 
stitution of  Min- 
isters. 


*   Canon  xxxvi.,  1832. 


>>  ij  5,  Canon  vii.,  1856. 


Certificate    of 
Election. 


27 


title  I. 


C  A  NON     1  2, 


§" 


General  Regulations  of  Ministers^  etc. 


Certificate  to  he 
transmitted  for 
Record. 


Concerning    In- 
stitution. 


Certificate  to 
Minister  remov- 
ing from  one  to 
another  Diocese. 


Which  certificate  shall  oe  signed  by  the  names  of 
those  who  certify. 

[2.]  If  the  Bishop  or  the  Standing  Committee  he 
satisfied  that  the  person  so  chosen  is  a  qualified  Minister 
of  this  Church,  the  Bishop,  or  the  President  of  the  Stand- 
ing Committee,  shall  transmit  the  said  certificate  to  the 
Secretary  of  the  Convention,  who  shall  record  it  in  a 
book  to  be  kept  by  him  for  that  purpose." 

[3.]  And  if  the  Minister  be  a  Presbyter,  the  Bishop, 
or  President  of  the  Standing  Committee,  may,  at  the 
instance  of  the  Vestry,  proceed  to  have  him  instituted 
according  to  1he  Oflice  established  by  this  Church,  if 
that  Office  be  used  in  the  Diocese.  But  if  he  be  a 
Deacon,  the  act  of  Institution  shall  not  take  place  until 
after  he  shall  have  received  Priest's  Orders.  This  pro- 
vision, concerning  the  use  of  the  Office  of  Institution,  is 
not  to  be  considered  as  applying  to  any  congregation  des- 
titute of  a  house  of  worship." 

\^  [I.  No  Minister,  removing  from  one  Diocese  or 
Missionary  District  to  another,  shall  officiate  as  the  Rec- 
tor, Stated  Minister,  or  Assistant  Minister  of  any  Parish 
or  Congresjation  of  the  Diocese  or  District  to  which  he 
removes,  until  he  shall  have  obtained  from  the  eccle- 
siastical authority  a  certificate  in  the  words  following  : 

"  I  hereby  certify  that  the  Rev.  A.  B.  has  been  canonically  transfer- 
red to  ray  jurisdiction,  and  is  a  Minister  in  regular  standing. 

^  ij  2,  Canon  vii.,  1856.  "  ^  3,  Canon  vii.,  1856. 

<^  H,  Canon  vii.,  1856. 


28 


Canon     12 


§111-, 


IV 


General  Regulations  of  Ministers^  etc. 


k  III.  The  Alms  and  Contributions  at  the  administra- 
tion of  the  Holy  Communion  shall  be  deposited  with  the 
Minister  of  the  Parish,  or  with  such  Church  officer  as 
shall  be  appointed  by  him,  to  be  applied  by  the  Minister, 
or  under  his  superintendence,  to  such  pious  and  chari- 
table uses  as  shall  by  him  be  thought  fit." 

k  IV.  [1.]  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  Ministers  to  prepare 
young  persons  and  others  for  the  holy  ordinance  of  Con- 
firmation. And  on  notice  being  received  from  the  Bishop 
of  his  intention  to  visit  any  Church,  which  notice  shall 
be  at  least  one  month  before  the  intended  visitation,  the 
Minister  shall  give  immediate  notice  to  his  parishioners, 
individually,  as  opportunity  may  offer,  and  also  to  the 
Congregation  on  the  first  occasion  of  public  worship  after 
the  receipt  of  said  notice.  And  he  shall  be  ready  to 
present  for  Confirmation  such  persons  as  he  shall  think 
properly  qualified,  and  shall  deliver  to  the  Bishop  a  list 
of  the  names  of  those  confirmed. 

[2.]  And  at  every  visiiation  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Minister,  and  of  the  Church  Wardens  or  Vestry,  to  give 
information  to  the  Bishop  of  the  state  of  the  Congrega- 
tion, under  such  heads  as  shall  have  been  committed  to 
them  in  the  notice  given  as  aforesaid. 

[3.]  And  further,  the  Ministers  and  Churchwardens 
of  such  congregations  as  cannot  be  conveniently  visited 
in  any  year,  shall  bring  or  send  to  the  Bishop,  at  the 
stated  meeting  of  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese,  in- 
formation of  the  state  of  the  congregation,  under  such 

»  Canon  lii.,  1832. 


Alms  and  Con- 
tributions. 


Duty  on  Episco- 
pal Visitations. 

One  Mont  It's 
Notice. 


List  of  Names. 


Duty  to  give  In- 
formation. 


Parochial  Re- 
ports. 


29 


Parish  Register 
to  he  kept. 


Register  of  Bap- 
tisms. 


List  of  Families. 


Offi^ciating  of 
Ministers  within 
the  Cures  of 
others. 


Parish  Bounda- 
ries,not  otherwise 
defined. 

30 


General  Regulations  of  Minister's,  etc. 


heads  as  shall  have  been  committed  to  thera  at  least  one 
month  before  the  meeting  of  the  Convention.* 

^  V.  [1.]  Every  Minister  of  this  Church  shall  keep  a 
register  of  baptisms,  confirmations,  communicants,  mar- 
riages, and  funerals,  within  his  cure,  agreeably  to  such 
rules  as  may  be  provided  by  the  Convention  of  the 
Diocese  where  his  cure  lies;  and  if  none  such  be  pro- 
vided, then  in  such  manner  as  in  his  discretion  he  shall 
think  best  suited  to  the  uses  of  such  a  register. 

[2.]  The  intention  of  the  Register  of  Baptisms  is 
hereby  declared  to  be,  as  for  other  good  uses,  so  espe- 
cially for  the  proving  of  the  right  of  the  Churohmem- 
bership  of  those  who  may  have  been  admitted  into  this 
Church  by  the  holy  ordinance  of  Baptism. 

[3.]  Every  Minister  of  this  Church  shall  make  out 
and  continue,  as  far  as  practicable,  a  list  of  all  families 
and  adult  persons  within  his  cure,  to  remain  for  the 
use  of  his  successor,  to  be  continued  by  him,  and  by 
every  future  Minister  in  the  same  parish.^ 

^  VI.  [1.]  No  Minister  belonging  to  this  Church  shall 
officiate,  either  by  preaching,  reading  prayers,  or  other- 
wise, in  the  parish,  or  within  the  parochial  cure,  of  an- 
other clergyman,  unless  he  have  received  express  per- 
mission for  that  purpose  from  the  Minister  of  the  parish 
or  cure,  or,  in  his  absence,  from  the  Churchwardens  and 
Vestrymen,  or  Trustees  of  the  Congregation,  or  a  ma- 
jority of  them. 

[2.]  Where  parish  boundaries  are  not  defined  by  law, 
or  settled  by  Diocesan  authority  under  the  second  Section 


Canon  xxvi.,  1832. 


b  Canon  xxix.,  1832. 


Canon     12. 


§  VI 


General  Regulations  of  Ministers^  etc. 


of  Canon  V.  of  Title  III.  of  this  Digest,  or  are  not  other- 
wise settled,  they  shall,  for  the  purposes  of  this  Section, 
be  defined  by  the  civil  divisions  of  the  State  as  follows  : 

Parochial  boundaries  shall  be  the  limits,  as  now  fixed 
by  law,  of  any  village,  town,  township,  incorporated 
borough,  city,  or  the  limits  of  some  division  thereof 
which  may  have  been  recognized  by  the  Bishop,  acting 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Standing  Committee, 
as  constituting  the  boundaries  of  a  parish. 

If  there  be  but  one  church  or  congregation  within  the 
limits  of  such  village,  town,  township,  borough,  city,  or 
such  division  of  a  city  or  town  as  herein  provided,  the 
same  shall  be  deemed  the  parochial  cure  of  the  Minister 
having  charge  thereof.  If  there  be  two  or  more  congre- 
gations or  churches  therein,  it  shall  be  deemed  the  cure 
of  the  Ministers  thereof ;  and  the  assent  of  a  majority  of 
such  Ministers  shall  be  necessary. 

When,  under  Diocesan  authority,  a  new  parish  is  con- 
stituted, and  its  boundaries  defined,  this  Section  shall  be 
applicable  to  the  same  as  so  established, 

[3.]  If  any  Minister  of  the  Church,  from  inability  or 
any  other  cause,  neglect  to  perform  the  regular  services 
in  his  Congregation,  and  refuse,  without  good  cause,  his 
consent  to  any  other  Minister  of  the  Church  to  officiate 
within  his  Cure,  the  Churchwardens,  Vestrymen,  or 
Trustees  of  such  Congregation  shall,  on  proof  of  such 
neglect  or  refusal  before  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  or  if 
there  be  no  Bishop  before  the  Standing  Committee,  or 
before  snch  persons  as  may  be  deputed  by  him  or  them, 
or  before  such  persons  as  may  be,  by  the  regulations  of 
this  Church  in  any  Diocese,  vested  with  the  power  of 


To  he  certain 
Civil  Divisions 
of  the  State. 


Recognized  by 
the  Bishop. 


If  but  ane 
Church. 


If  two  or  more 
Churches. 


A  neiv  Parish. 


Neglect  of  Min- 
ister. 


31 


Rig  fits  of  Prop- 
erty undisturbed. 


Of  Clerical  Resi- 
dence and  Remo- 
val. 


Letter  Dimissory. 


When  to  affect 
canonical  Resi- 
dence. 


When  void. 


S2 


General  Regulations  of  Ministers^  etc. 


hearing  and  deciding  on  complaints  against  Clergymen, 
have  power,  with  the  written  consent  of  the  before-men- 
tioned authority,  to  open  the  doors  of  their  Church  to 
any  regular  Minister  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church. 
[4.]  This  Canon  shall  not  affect  any  legal  rights  of 
property  of  any  parish. 

h  VII.  [1.]  A  Minister  of  this  Church  removing  within 
the  jurisdiction  of  any  Bishop  or  other  ecclesiastical 
authority,  shall,  in  order  to  gain  canonical  residence 
within  the  same,  present  to  said  ecclesiastical  authority, 
a  testimonial  from  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  the 
Diocese  or  Missionary  District  in  which  he  last  resided, 
which  testimonial  shall  set  forth  his  true  standing  and 
character.  The  testimonial  may  be  in  the  following 
words  : — 

"  I  hereby  certify,  that  A.  B.,  who  has  signified  to  me  his  desire  to  be 

transferred  to  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of ,  is  a  Presbyter  (or 

Deacon)  of ,  in  regular  standing,  and  has  not,  so  far  as  I  know  or 

believe,  been  justly  liable  to  evil  report,  for  error  in  religion  or  vicious- 
ness  of  life,  for  three  years  last  past." 

[2.]  All  such  testimonials  shall  be  called  Letters  Dimis- 
sory. No  such  letter  shall  affect  a  Minister's  canonical 
residence,  until,  after  having  been  presented  according 
to  its  address,  it  shall  have  been  accepted,  and  notifica- 
tion of  such  acceptance  given  to  the  authority  whence  it 
proceeded.  The  residence  of  the  Minister  so  transferred 
shall  date  from  the  acceptance  of  his  letter  of  transfer. 
If  not  presented  within  three  months  after  its  date,  it 
may  be  considered  as  void  by  the  authority  whence  it 
proceeded;  and  shall  be  so  considered,  unless  it  be  pre- 
sented within  six  months. 


Canon  1  2, 


§VII 


General  Regulations  of  Ministers^  etc. 


[3.]  If  a  Minister,  removing  into  another  Diocese,  who 
has  been  called  to  take  charge  of  a  parish  or  congrega- 
tion, shall  present  a  testimonial  in  the  form  aforesaid,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  the 
Diocese  to  which  he  has  removed,  to  accept  it,  unless  the 
Bishop  or  Standing  Committee  should  have  heard  ru- 
mors, that  he  or  they  believe  to  be  well  founded,  against 
the  character  of  the  Minister  concerned,  which  would 
form  a  proper  ground  of  canonical  inquiry  and  present- 
ment ;  in  which  case  the  ecclesiastical  authority  shall 
communicate  the  same  to  the  Bishop  or  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  the  Diocese  to  whose  jurisdiction  the  said  Min- 
ister belongs  ;  and,  in  such  case,  it  shall  not  be  the  duty 
of  the  ecclesiastical  authority  to  accept  the  testimonial, 
unless,  and  until,  the  Minister  shall  be  exculpated  from 
the  said  charges. 

[4.]  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  Ministers,  except  pro- 
fessors in  the  Greneral  Theological  Seminary,  officers  of 
the  Board  of  Missions,  and  chaplains  in  the  army  and 
navy,  to  obtain  and  present  letters  of  transfer  as  above 
described,  whenever  they  remove  from  one  Diocese  or 
Missionary  District  to  any  other  Diocese  or  Missionary 
District,  whether  Domestic  or  Foreign,  and  remain  there 
for  the  space  of  six  months.* 


When  Reception 
may  be  Refused. 


When  Letters 
Dimissory  are 
not  required. 


33 


title  I. 


Canon     13 


Election  of 
Bishops. 


Six  Presbyters 
and  six  Parishes. 


Turn  or  more 
Dioceses  uniting. 


Dioceses  imcon- 
ntcted. 


What  IS  a  Settle- 
ment. 


Canon    13. 

Of  Bishops. 

^  I.  [1.]  To  entitle  a  Diocese  to  the  choice  of  a  Bishop, 
by  the  Convention  thereof,  there  must  he,  at  the  time  of 
such  choice,  and  have  been  during  the  year  previous,  at 
least  six  officiating  Presbyters  therein,  regularly  settled 
in  a  Parish,  or  Church,  and  qualified  to  vote  for  a  Bishop, 
and  six  or  more  Parishes  represented  in  the  Convention 
electing.  But  two  or  more  adjoining  Dioceses,  not 
having  respectively  the  requisite  number  of  Presbyters 
to  entitle  either  to  the  choice  of  a  Bishop,  may  associate 
and  proceed  to  the  choice  of  a  Bishop,  to  exercise  juris- 
diction alike  in  each  of  the  associated  Dioceses,  if  there 
be,  at  the  time  of  such  choice,  and  have  been  during  the 
year  previous,  nine,  or  more,  such  Presbyters  residing  in 
any  part  of  such  associated  Dioceses,  qualified  as  afore- 
said ;  and  the  Bishop,  so  elected,  shall  exercise  Episcopal 
jurisdiction  over  each  of  the  associated  Dioceses,  until 
such  time  as  some  one  of  such  Dioceses,  having  six  or 
more  Presbyters  canonically  qualified  to  elect  a  Bishop, 
shall  elect  him,  and  he  shall  have  accepted  the  office  as 
its  own  exclusive  Diocesan  ;  whereupon,  his  connection 
with  the  other  associated  Diocese  or  Dioceses  shall  cease 
and  determine  :  Provided,  always,  that  the  Dioceses  thus 
associated  in  the  election  of  a  common  Bishop,  and  the 
conventions  thereof,  shall,  in  all  other  respects,  remain  as 
before,  unconnected  and  independent  of  each  other  ;  and 
Provided,  also,  that  such  association  shall  be  dissolved 
on  the  demise  of  the  Bishop,  if  not  before. 

[2.]  A  Minister  is  settled,  for  all  purposes  here  or  else- 
where mentioned  in  these  Canons,  who  has  been  en- 
gaged permanently  by  any  Parish,  according  to  the  rules 
of  said  Diocese,  or  for  any  term  not  less  than  one  year." 


34 


Canon  vi.,  1856.         ^  Canon  ii.,  1844. 


Canon     13 


§■■ 


Of  Bishops. 


\  II.  [1.]  Every  Bishop  elect,  before  his  consecration, 
shall  produce  to  the  House  of  Bishops,  from  the  Conven- 
tion by  whom  he  is  elected,  evidence  of  such  election  ; 
and,  from  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  in 
General  Convention,  evidence  of  their  approbation  of  his 
testimonials,  and  of  their  assent  to  his  consecration  :  and 
also  certificates,  respectively,  in  the  following  words ; 
such  certificates,  in  both  cases,  to  be  signed  by  a  consti- 
tutional majority  of  the  members  of  the  Diocesan  Con- 
vention, or  of  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies, 
as  the  case  may  be.  The  same  evidence  of  election  by, 
and  the  same  certificate  from,  the  members  of  the  Dio- 
cesan Convention,  shall  be  presented  to  the  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  in  Greneral  Convention. 

Testimony  from  the  Members  of  the  Convention  in  the  Diocese  from  whence 
the  Person  is  recommended  for  Consecration. 
"  We,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  fully  sensible  how  important  it 
is  that  the  sacred  office  of  a  Bishop  should  not  be  unworthily  conferi'ed, 
and  firmly  persuaded  that  it  is  our  duty  to  bear  testimony  on  this  solemn 
occasion,  without  partiality  or  affection,  do,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty 
God,  testify  that  A.  B.  is  not,  so  far  as  we  are  informed,  justly  liable  to 
evil  report,  either  for  error  in  religion,  or  for  viciousness  in  life,  and  that 
we  do  not  know  or  believe  there  is  any  impediment,  on  account  of  whidi 
he  ought  not  to  be  consecrated  to  that  holy  Office.  We  do,  moreover, 
jointly  and  severally,  declare  that  we  do,  in  our  conscience,  believe  him 
to  be  of  such  sufficiency  in  good  learning,  such  soundness  in  the  faith, 
and  of  such  virtuous  and  pure  manners,  and  godly  conversation,  that  he 
is  apt  and  meet  to  exercise  the  Office  of  a  Bishop  to  the  honor  of  God, 
and  the  edifying  of  His  Church,  and  to  be  a  wholesome  example  to  the 
flock  of  Christ." 

The  above  certificate  shall  be  presented  to  the  House 
of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  in  General  Convention. 

Testimony  from  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  in  General 

Convention. 
"  We,  whose  names  are  underwritten,  fully  sensible  how  important  it 
is  that  the  sacred  Office  of  a  Bishop  should  not  be  unworthily  conferred, 


Certificates  to  he\ 
produced  by  the 
Bishop  elect. 


Testimony  from 
Diocesan  Con- 
vention. 


Testimony  from 
House  of  Cleri-, 
cal  and  Lay  Dep 
iities. 

35 


Consecrat/o'n. 


Consecration  du- 
rins;  Recess. 


Consent  of 
Standing  Com- 
mittees. 


Consent  of 
Bishops. 


36 


Of  Bishrqjs. 


and  firmly  persuaded  that  it  is  our  duty  to  bear  testimony,  on  this 
solemn  occasion,  without  partiality  or  affection,  do,  in  the  presence  of 
Almighty  God,  testify  that  A.  B.  is  not,  so  far  as  we  are  informed,  justly 
liable  to  evil  report,  either  for  error  in  religion,  or  for  vieiousness  of 
life  ;  and  that  we  do  not  know  or  believe  there  is  any  impediment,  on 
account  of  which  he  ought  not  to  be  consecrated  to  that  holy  Office,  but 
that  he  hath,  as  we  believe,  led  his  life,  for  three  years  last  past,  piously, 
soberly,  and  honestly." 

[2.]  If  the  House  of  Bishops  consent  to  the  consecra- 
tion, the  Presiding  Bishop,  with  any  two  Bishops,  may 
proceed  to  perform  the  same,  or  any  three  Bishops  to 
whom  he  may  communicate  the  testimonials.* 

^  III.  [1.]  If,  during  the  recess  of  the  G-eneral  Con- 
vention, tlie  Church  in  any  Diocese  should  be  desirous  of 
the  consecration  of  a  Bishop  elect,  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  the  Church  in  such  Diocese  may,  by  their  pres- 
ident, or  by  some  person  or  persons  specially  appointed, 
communicate  the  desire  to  the  Standing  Committees  of 
the  Churches  in  the  different  Dioceses,  together  with 
copies  of  the  necessary  testimonials ;  and  if  the  major 
number  of  the  Standing  Committees  shall  consent  to  the 
proposed  consecration,  the  Standing  Committee  of  the 
Diocese  concerned  shall  forward  the  evidence  of  such 
consent,  together  with  other  testimonials,  to  the  Presid- 
ing Bishop  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  or,  in  case  of  his 
death,  to  the  Bishop  who,  according  to  the  rules  of  the 
House  of  Bishops,  is  to  preside  at  the  next  General  Con- 
vention, who  shall  communicate  the  same  to  all  the 
Bishops  of  this  Church  in  the  United  States  ;  and  if  a 
majority  of  the  Bishops  consent  to  the  consecration,  the 
Presiding  Bishop  or  Bishop  aforesaid,  with  any  two  Bish- 

^  Canon  iii.,  1832. 


Canon 


I  V  .  -  V  1 


Of  Bishops. 


ops,  may  proceed  to  perforin  the  same,  or  any  three  Bish- 
ops to  whom  he  may  communicate  the  testimonials. 

[2.]  The  evidence  of  the  consent  of  the  different  Stand- 
ing Committees  shall  be  in  the  form  prescribed  for  the 
House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  in  G-eneral  Conven- 
tion ;  and,  without  the  aforesaid  requisites,  no  consecra- 
tion shall  take  place  during  the  recess  of  the  General 
Convention ;  but  in  case  the  election  of  a  Bishop  shall 
take  place  within  six  months  before  the  meeting  of  the 
General  Convention,  all  matters  relative  to  the  consecra- 
tion shall  be  deferred  until  the  said  meeting." 

^  IV.  No  man  shall  be  consecrated  a  Bishop  of  this 
Church  until  he  shall  be  thirty  years  old.'' 

^  V.  When  a  Bishop  of  a  Diocese  is  unable,  by  reason 
of  old  age,  or  other  permanent  cause  of  infirmity,  to  dis- 
charge his  Episcopal  duties,  one  Assistant  Bishop  may 
be  elected  by  and  for  the  said  Diocese,  who  shall,  in  all 
cases,  succeed  the  Bishop  in  case  of  surviving  him.  The 
Assistant  Bishop  shall  perform  such  Episcopal  duties,  and 
exercise  such  Episcopal  authority  in  the  Diocese,  as  the 
Bishop  shall  assign  to  him  ;  and,  in  case  of  the  Bishop's 
inability  to  assign  such  duties,  declared  by  the  Conven- 
tion of  the  Diocese,  the  Assistant  Bishop  shall,  during 
such  inability,  perform  all  the  duties,  and  exercise  all 
the  authorities  which  appertain  to  the  oflSce  of  a  Bishop. 
No  person  shall  be  elected  or  consecrated  a  Suffragan 
Bishop,  nor  shall  there  be  more  than  one  Assistant  Bishop 
in  a  Diocese  at  the  same  time." 

§  VI.  A  Diocese  deprived  of  the  services  of  its  Bishop 

»  Canon  v.,  1832.  "^  Canon  viii.,  1832.       <^  Canon  vi.,  1832. 


Evidence  of 
Consent. 


No  Consecration 
within   six 
Months. 


Age. 


Assistant     Bish- 
ops. 


No  Suffragayi 
Bishops. 


Provisional 


Bishops. 


37 


title  I. 


Canon    13 


VII 


Assistant,  on 
Restoration  of 
suspended 
Bishop. 


Of  Domestic  Mis- 
sionary Bishops. 


Mode    and  Evi- 
dence of  Election. 


Exercise  of  Epis- 
copal Functions. 


38 


Of  Bishops. 


by  a  sentence  of  suspension  without  a  precise  limitation 
of  time,  may  proceed  to  the  election  of  a  Provisional 
Bishop,  who,  when  duly  consecrated,  shall  exercise  all 
the  powers  and  authority  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese 
■  during  the  suspension  of  such  Bishop  ;  and  who,  in  case 
of  the  remission  of  the  sentence  of  the  Bishop,  and  his 
restoration  to  the  exercise  of  his  jurisdiction,  shall  per- 
form the  duties  of  Assistant  Bishop  prescribed  by  the 
fifth  Section  of  this  Canon  ;  and  who  in  all  cases  shall 
succeed  to  the  Bishop  on  his  death  or  resignation.* 

§  Vn.  [1.]  The  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies 
may,  from  time  to  time,  on  nomination  by  the  House  of 
Bishops,  elect  a  suitable  person  or  persons,  to  be  a  Bishop 
or  Bishops  of  this  Church,  to  exercise  Episcopal  functions 
in  States  or  Territories  not  organized  into  Dioceses,  The 
evidence  of  such  election  shall  be  a  certificate,  to  be  sub- 
scribed by  a  constitutional  majority  of  said  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  in  the  form  required  by  the 
second  section  of  this  Canon  to  be  given  by  the  members 
of  Diocesan  Conventions  on  the  recommendation  of  Bish«- 
ops  elect  for  consecration,  which  certificate  shall  be  pro- 
duced to  the  House  of  Bishops  ;  and  if  the  House  of 
Bishops  shall  consent  to  the  consecration,  they  may  take 
order  for  that  purpose. 

[2.]  The  Bishop  or  Bishops  so  elected  and  consecrated, 
shall  exercise  Episcopal  functions  in  such  States  and  Ter- 
ritories, in  conformity  with  the  Constitution  and  Canons 
of  the  Church,  and  under  such  regulations  and  instruc- 
tions, not  inconsistent  therewith,  as  the  House  of  Bishops 

»   Canon  iii.,  1850. 


Canon     13 


^  VII 


Of  Bishojis. 


may  prescribe ;  and  the  House  of  Bishops  may  at  any 
time  increase  or  diminish  the  number  of  States  or  Terri- 
tories over  which  the  said  Bishop  or  Bishops  shall  exercise 
Episcopal  functions. 

[3.]  In  case  of  the  death  or  resignation  of  a  Missionary 
BLshop,  or  of  vacancy  by  other  cause,  the  charge  of 
the  vacant  Missionary  Episcopate  shall  devolve  on  the 
senior  Bishop  of  this  Church,  with  the  power  of  appoint- 
ing some  other  Bishop  as  his  substitute  in  said  charge. 

[4.]  The  jurisdiction  of  this  Church  extending  in  right, 
though  not  always  in  form,  to  all  persons  belonging  to 
it  within  the  United  States,  it  is  hereby  enacted,  that 
each  Missionary  Bishop  shall  have  jvirisdiction  over  the 
clergy  in  the  district  assigned  him,  and  may,  in  case 
a  presentment  and  trial  of  a  clergyman  become  proper, 
request  the  action  of  any  Presbyters  and  Standing  Com- 
mittee, in  any  Diocese  sufficiently  near,  and  the  present- 
ment and  trial  shall  be  according  to  the  Constitution 
and  Canons  of  said  Diocese.  Or,  if  there  be  such  a 
Standing  Committee  appointed  by  the  Missionary  Bishop 
as  is  hereinafter  provided  for,  the  clerical  members  there- 
of may  make  presentment,  and  the  trial  shall  take  place 
according  to  the  Constitution  and  Canons  of  any  Diocese 
of  this  Church  which  may  have  been  selected  at  the  time 
of  the  appointment  of  such  Standing  Committee,  pro- 
vided that  the  Court  shall  be  composed  of  at  least  three 
Presbyters,  excluding  the  members  of  the  Standing 
Committee  and  the  accused. 

[5.]  Any  Bishop  or  Bishops  elected  and  consecrated 
under  this  Section  shall  be  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  House 
of  Bishops,  and  shall  be  ehgible  to  the  office  of  Diocesan 
Bishop    in  any  organized  Diocese  within   the   United 


Extent  of  Juris 
diction. 


Vacancy. 


Jvirisdiction  over 
Clergy    and 
Mode  of  exerci- 
sins;  it. 


Entitled  to  seat 
in  the  House  of 
Bishops. 

Eligible  as  a 
Diocesan. 

39 


I. 


Canon  13. 


VIII 


Power  upon  the 
Organization  of 

a  Diocese. 


Power  to  appoint 
a  Standing 
Committee. 


Proviso. 


Report  to  General 
Convention. 


Of  Foreign 
Missionary 
Bishops. 


Evidence  of 
Election. 


40 


Of  Bishops. 


States.  And  whenever  a  Diocese  shall  have  been  organ- 
ized within  the  jurisdiction  of  such  Missionary  Bishop, 
if  he  shall  he  chosen  Bishop  of  such  Diocese,  he  may 
accept  the  office  without  vacating  his  missionary  ap- 
pointment, provided  that  he  continue  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  Missionary  Bishop  within  the  residue  of  his 
original  jurisdiction,  if  there  be  such  residue. 

[6.]  Every  such  Bishop  may  yearly  appoint  two  Pres- 
byters, and  two  Laymen  communicants  of  this  Church, 
resident  within  his  missionary  jurisdiction,  to  perform  the 
duties  of  a  Standing  Committee  for  such  jurisdiction  ; 
Provided  that  no  Standing  Committee  constituted  under 
this  Section  shall  have  power  to  give  or  refuse  assent  to 
the  consecration  of  a  Bishop. 

[7.]  Every  such  Bishop  shall  report  to  each  Greneral 
Convention  his  proceedings,  and  the  state  and  condition 
of  the  Church  in  said  States  and  Territories  of  the 
United  States  ;  and,  at  least  once  a  year,  make  a  report 
to  the  Board  of  Missions." 

^  VIII.  [1.]  The  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies 
may,  from  time  to  time,  on  nomination  by  the  House  of 
Bishops,  elect  a  suitable  person  or  persons  to  be  a  Bishop 
or  Bishops  of  this  Church,  to  exercise  Episcopal  func- 
tions in  any  Missionary  station  or  stations  of  this  Church 
out  of  the  Territory  of  the  United  States,  which  the 
House  of  Bishops,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  may  have  designated.  The 
evidence  of  such  election  shall  be  a  certificat-e,  to  be  sub- 
scribed by  a  constitutional  majority  of  said  House  of 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  expressing  their  assent  to  the 

=  Canon  x.,  1856 


Canon     13 


§  VIII 


Of  Bishops. 


said  nomination,  which  certificate  shall  be  produced  to 
the  House  of  Bishops  ;  and  if  the  House  of  Bishops  shall 
consent  to  the  consecration,  they  may  take  order  for  that 
purpose. 

[2.]  Any  Bishop  elected  and  consecrated  under  this 
Section,  or  any  foreign  Missionary  Bishop  heretofore 
consecrated  to  exercise  Episcopal  functions  in  any  place 
or  country  which  may  have  been  thus  designated,  shall 
have  no  jurisdiction,  except  in  the  place  or  country  for 
which  he  has  been  elected  and  consecrated.  He  shall 
not  be  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Bishops,  nor 
shall  he  become  a  Diocesan  Bishop  in  any  organized 
Diocese  within  the  United  States,  unless  with  the  con- 
sent of  three  fourths  of  all  the  Bishops  entitled  to  seats 
in  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  also  of  three  fourths  of  the 
Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  present  at  the  Session  of  the 
General  Convention,  or,  in  the  recess  of  the  General 
Convention,  with  the  consent  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittees of  three  fourths  of  the  Dioceses. 

[3.]  Any  Bishop  or  Bishops  consecrated  under  this 
Section,  or  any  Foreign  Missionary  Bishop  heretofore  con- 
secrated, shall,  on  presentment  by  two  thirds  of  the  Mis- 
sionaries under  his  charge,  for  immorality  or  heresy,  or 
for  a  violation  of  the  Constitution  or  Canons  of  this 
Church,  be  tried,  and,  if  found  guilty,  sentenced,  in  all 
particulars  as  if  he  were  actually  resident  within  the 
limits  of  the  United  States,  except  that  the  trial  may  be 
within  any  Diocese  in  the  United  States. 

[4.]  Any  Bishop  or  Bishops  elected  and  consecrated 
under  this  Section,  or  any  Foreign  Missionary  Bishop 
heretofore  consecrated,  may  ordain  as  Deacons  or  Pres- 
byters, to  officiate  within  the  limits  of  their  respective 


Limitation  of 
Jurisdiction. 


No  Seat  in  the 
House  of  Bi- 
shops. 

Restriction  upon 
Eligihility  as 
a  Diocesan  Bi- 
shop. 


Mode  of  Pre- 
senting and 
Trying. 


Power  to  Or- 
dain Deacons  or 
Presbyters. 


41 


Testimonials 
necessary  in  such 
Case. 


Power  of  Dii 
pensation. 


Proviso. 

Proviso. 
Restrictions. 


42 


Of  Bishojjs, 


missions,  any  persons  of  the  age  required  by  the  Canons 
of  this  Church,  who  shall  exhibit  to  him,  or  them,  the 
testimonials  required  by  Canons  5  and  7  of  this  Title, 
signed  by  not  less  than  two  of  the  ordained  Missionaries 
of  this  Church  who  may  be  subject  to  his  or  their 
charge  :  provided,  nevertheless,  that  if  there  be  only  one 
ordained  Missionary  attached  to  the  Mission,  and  capa- 
ble of  acting  at  the  time,  the  signature  of  a  Presbyter, 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  any  Bishop  in  communion  with 
this  Church,  in  good  standing,  may  be  admitted  to  sup- 
ply the  deficiency. 

[5.]  Any  Foreign  Missionary  Bishop  consecrated  under 
this  Section,  or  heretofore  consecrated,  may,  by  and  with 
the  advice  of  two  Presbyters,  one  of  whom,  if  necessity 
require,  shall  be  a  Presbyter  in  good  standing  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  any  Bishop  in  communion  with  this 
Church,  dispense  with  those  studies  required  from  a  can- 
didate for  Deacon's  Orders  by  the  Canons  of  this  Church; 
Provided  no  person  shall  be  ordained  by  him  who  has  not 
passed  a  satisfactory  examination,  in  the  presence  of  two 
Presbyters,  as  to  his  theological  learning  and  aptitude  to 
teach :  and  Provided,  further,  that  no  person  shall  be  or- 
dained by  him  until  he  shall  have  been  a  candidate  for 
at  least  three  years.  Nor  shall  any  Deacon,  so  ordained, 
be  advanced  to  the  Order  of  Presbyters,  who  has  not 
been  in  Deacon's  Orders  for  at  least  one  year.  Nor  shall 
any  Deacon  or  Priest,  who  shall  have  been  ordained  under 
this  Section,  be  allowed  to  hold  any  cure,  or  officiate  in 
the  Church  in  these  United  States,  until  he  shall  have 
complied  with  existing  Canons,  relating  to  the  learning 
of  persons  to  be  ordained. 


Canon     13 


§   VIII 


Of  Bishops. 


[6.]  Any  Foreign  Missionary  Bishop  or  Bishops  elected 
and  consecrated  under  this  section,  or  any  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Bishop  heretofore  consecrated,  shall  have  juris- 
diction and  government  according  to  the  Canons  of  this 
Church  over  all  Missionaries  or  Clergymen  of  this  Church, 
resident  in  the  district  or  country  for  which  he  or  they 
may  have  been  consecrated. 

[7.]  Every  such  Bishop  may  yearly  appoint  not  less 
than  two  nor  more  than  five  Presbyters,  resident  within 
his  missionary  jurisdiction  and  acting  under  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  Board  of  Missions,  to  act  as  a  Standino; 
Committee  in  such  missionary  jurisdiction,  upon  all  ques- 
tions pertaining  to  the  interests  of  such  missionary  juris- 
diction ;  and,  in  case  of  the  absence  of  the  Bishop  from 
his  jurisdiction,  or  of  a  vacancy  in  the  Episcopate,  said 
Standing  Committee  shall  be  the  ecclesiastical  authority 
of  such  missionary  jurisdiction. 

[8.]  If  any  Minister  of  this  Church,  acting  under  a 
Foreign  Missionary  appointment,  and  within  the  juris- 
diction of  a  Foreign  Missionary  Bishop  of  this  Church, 
shall  commit  any  offence  which  comes  within  the  pro- 
visions of  Canon  2  of  Title  II.,  Of  Off ences  for  which 
Ministers  may  be  tried  and  punished ;  or  shall  re- 
fuse obedience  to  the  lawful  authority  of  the  Missionary 
Bishop ;  such  clergyman  shall  be  proceeded  against 
according  to  the  Constitution  and  Canons  of  any  Dio- 
cese of  this  Church,  which  may  have  been  selected  at 
the  time  of  the  appointment  of  the  Standing  Committee 
of  such  Missionary  Jurisdiction  :  Provided  that  a  present- 
ment shall  first  be  made  by  the  members  of  said  Stand- 
ing Committee,  or,  if  the  accused  party  be  a  member 
of  the  Standing  Committee,  by  the  other  member  or 
members  thereof. 


Jurisdiction 
over  resident 
Missionaries  or 
Clergymen. 


May   appoint 
Standing  Com- 
mittee. 


Trial  of  Minis- 
ters. 


43 


title  I. 


Canon    1 3 


§  IX 


Of  Bishops. 


The  Court. 


Sentence. 


Report  to  be 
made  to  General 
Convention  and 
Board  of  Mis- 
sions:. 


[9.]  The  Court  for  the  trial  of  such  Minister  shall 
consist  of  five  Presbyters,  excluding  the  members  of 
the  Standing  Committee  ;  or,  if  there  be  not  five,  then 
of  all  the  members  of  such  Missionary  jurisdiction.  If 
there  be  more  than  five,  then  shall  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee select,  by  lot,  the  five  v^\\o  shall  compose  the  court, 
which  court  shall  proceed  in  the  trial,  according  to  the 
Canons  of  the  General  Convention  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  so  far  as  the  same  may  be  applicable 
to  such  a  case  ;  and  where  no  provision  is  made  adequate 
to  the  exigency,  the  court  shall  consider  and  adjudge  the 
case  according  to  the  principles  of  law  and  equity. 

[10.]  The  sentence  of  the  court  shall  be  rendered  to 
the  Bishop  of  such  Missionary  jurisdiction,  who  shall 
have  power  to  revise  and  modify  the  same,  and  the  de- 
cision of  the  Bishop  shall  be  final  and  conclusive. 

[11.]  Every  Bishop  elected  and  consecrated  under  this 
Section,  or  Foreign  Missionary  Bishop  heretofore  conse- 
crated, shall  report  to  each  General  Convention  his  pro- 
ceedings and  acts,  and  the  state  of  the  Mission  under  his 
supervision.  He  shall  also  make  a  similar  report  at 
least  once  a  year  to  the  Board  of  Missions  of  this  Church. 


Election  of  a 
Missionary  Bi- 
shop  as  a  Dioce- 
san. 


^  IX.  [1.]  When  a  Diocese,  entitled  to  the  choice  of  a 
Bishop,  shall  elect  as  its  Diocesan  a  Missionary  Bishop 
of  this  Church,  if  such  election  shall  have  taken  place 
within  three  months  before  a  meeting  of  the  General 
Convention,  evidence  thereof  shall  be  laid  before  each 
House  of  the  General  Convention,  and  the  concurrence 
of  each  House,  and  its  express  consent,  shall  be  neces- 


Canon  i.,  1850. 


44 


Canon     13 


Of  Bishops. 


sary  to  the  validity  of  said  election,  and  shall  complete 
the  same  ;  so  that  the  Bishop  thus  elected  shall  be  there- 
after the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  which  has  elected  him. 

[2.]  If  the  said  election  have  taken  place  more  than 
three  montlis  before  a  meeting  of  the  General  Conven- 
tion, the  above  process  may  be  adopted,  or  the  follow- 
ing instead  thereof,  viz.  :  The  Standing  Committee  of 
the  Diocese  electing  shall  give  duly  certified  evidence  of 
the  election  to  every  Bishop  of  this  Church,  and  to  the 
Standing  Committee  of  every  Diocese.  On  receiving 
notice  of  the  concurrence  of  a  majority  of  the  Bishops 
and  of  the  Standing  Committees  in  the  election,  and 
their  express  consent  thereto,  the  Standing  Committee 
of  the  Diocese  concerned  shall  transmit  notice  thereof  to 
every  Bishop  of  this  Church,  and  to  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  each  vacant  Diocese,  which  notice  shall  state 
what  Bishops  and  what  Standing  Committees  have  con- 
sented to  the  election.  And  the  same  Committee  shall 
transmit  to  every  Congregation  in  the  Diocese  concerned, 
to  be  publicly  read  therein,  a  notice  of  the  election  to 
the  Episcopate  thereof  of  the  Bishop  thus  elected,  and 
also  cause  public  notice  thereof  to  be  given  in  such  other 
way  as  they  may  think  proper.* 

^  X.  It  is  deemed  proper  that  every  Bishop  of  this 
Church  shall  deliver,  at  least  once  in  three  years,  a 
charge  to  the  clergy  of  his  Diocese,  unless  prevented  by 
reasonable  cause.  And  it  is  also  deemed  proper,  that, 
from  time  to  time,  he  shall  address  to  the  people  of  his 

*  Canon  ix.,  1856. 


Concurrence  of 
General  Conven- 
tion. 


Election  during 
Recess. 


Consent  of  Bisk- 
ops  and  Stand- 
ins  Committees. 


Notice  of  Elec- 
tion, 


Of  Episcopal 
Charges  and  Pas- 
toral Letters. 


45 


title  I. 


Canon    13. 


X  I 


Of  Bishops. 


Diocese,  Pastoral  Letters   on   some  points  of  Christian 
doctrine,  worship,  or  manners." 


Of  Episcopal 
Visitations. 


Declining  to  Vi- 
sit. 


Council  of  Con- 
ciliation. 


Proviso. 


k  XL  [1.]  Every  Bishop  in  this  Church  shall  visit  the 
churches  within  his  Diocese  at  least  once  in  three  years, 
for  the  purpose  of  examining  the  state  of  his  Church, 
inspecting  the  behavior  of  his  Clergy,  administering  the 
Apostolic  rite  of  Confirmation,  ministering  the  Word, 
and,  if  he  think  fit,  administering  the  Sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  to  the  people  committed  to  his  charge. 
And  if  a  Bishop  shall  decline,  for  more  than  three  years, 
to  visit  a  Parish  or  Congregation,  for  reasons  which  to 
him  shall  seem  sufficient,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
Rector  or  Minister,  and  Vestry,  or  of  one  of  them,  to  apply 
to  the  Presiding  Bishop,  to  appoint  the  five  Bishops  in 
charge  of  Dioceses,  who  live  nearest  to  the  Diocese 
in  which  such  Church  or  Congregation  may  be  situated, 
to  act  as  a  Council  of  Conciliation,  who  shall  amicably 
determine  all  matters  of  difference  between  the  parties, 
and  each  party  shall  conform  to  the  decision  of  the 
Council  in  the  premises.  If  the  presiding  Bishop  shall 
be  the  party  within  whose  jurisdiction  the  Parish  or 
Congregation  may  be,  then  the  application  shall  be  made 
to  the  Bishop  next  in  seniority.  And  in  any  such  case 
as  is  above  mentioned,  the  Bishop  within  whose  juris- 
diction the  Parish  or  Congregation  may  be,  may,  at  any 
time,  if  he  please,  apply  himself  to  the  presiding  Bishop, 
for  a  Council  of  Conciliation ;  Provided  that,  if,  by  the 
action  of  the  Greneral  Convention,  any  Canon  shall  here- 
after be  made  for  the  establishment  of  a  Council  or 


46 


»  Canon  xxvi.,  1832. 


Canon  13 


XI  I 


XIII 


Of  Bishops. 


Councils  of  Conciliation,  for  the  general  purpose  of 
amicably  reconciling  differences  of  this  or  any  other 
kind,  then  such  a  case  as  is  above  named,  shall  be  re- 
ferred to  such  general  Council  of  Conciliation,  and  the 
parties  shall  abide  by  its  decision. 

[2.]  To  enable  the  Bishop,  who  may  be  Rector  of  a 
Church,  to  make  his  official  visitation,  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  Clergy,  in  such  reasonable  rotation  as  may 
be  devised,  to  officiate  for  him  in  the  performance  of  his 
parochial  duties,  provision  being  made  for  the  payment 
of  their  expenses. 

[3.J  It  is  left  to  each  Diocese  to  make  provision,  in  such 
way  as  it  may  deem  proper,  for  defraying  the  necessary 
expenses  of  the  Bishop's  visitation. 

[4.J  The  Bishop  shall  keep  a  register  of  his  proceed- 
ings at  every  visitation  of  his  Diocese.* 

§  XII.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  Bishop  of  this  Church  to 
reside  within  his  Diocese.'' 

§  XIII.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  any  Bishop  of  a  Diocese, 
who  is  about  to  leave,  or  has  left,  his  Diocese,  with  the  in- 
tention of  going  out  of  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  or,  if 
remaining  out  of  his  Diocese  for  the  space  of  three  calen- 
dar months  although  without  leaving  the  United  States,  to 
authorize,  by  writing  under  his  hand  and  seal,  the  Assistant 
Bishop,  or  should  there  be  none,  the  Standing  Committee  of 
such  Diocese,  to  act  as  the  ecclesiastical  authority  thereof. 
The  Assistant  Bishop  or  Standing  Committee  so  author- 
ized, shall  thereupon  become  the  ecclesiastical  authority 


Ciaia  ii.,  ISj'o. 


'•Canoai.,   185G. 


Clergy  to  supply 
his  Place  as  Rec- 
tor. 


Expenses  of  Vis- 
itations. 


Register  to  be 
kept. 


Of  Episcopal 
Residence. 

Of  Bishops  ab- 
sent temporarily 
from,  their  Dio- 
ceses. 


title  I. 


Canon    13 


XIV.,    XV, 


Of  Bishops. 


of  such  Diocese,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  until  such 
writing  shall  be   revoked,    or  the   Bishop   shall  return 
Proviso.  within    the   Diocese ;  Provided,    that   nothing   in   this 

Canon  shall  be  so  construed  as  to  prevent  any  Bishop, 
who  may  have  signed  such  writing,  from  exercising  his 
jurisdiction  himself,  so  far  as  the  same  may  be  practica- 
ble, during  his  absence  from  his  Diocese,  or  from  per- 
mitting and  authorizing  any  other  Bishop  to  perform 
Episcopal  offices  for  him.* 


Forms  of  Prayer 
or  Thanksgiving 
for  extraordina- 
ry Occasions. 


§  XIV.  The  Bishop  of  each  Diocese  may  compose 
forms  of  prayer  or  thanksgiving,  as  the  case  may  require, 
for  extraordinary  occasions,  and  transmit  them  to  each 
Clergyman  within  his  Diocese,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  use  such  forms  in  his  Church  on  such  occasions.  And 
the  Clergy,  in  those  States  or  Dioceses,  or  other  places 
within  the  bounds  of  this  Church,  in  which  there  is  no 
Bishop,  may  use  the  form  of  prayer  or  thanksgiving 
composed  by  the  Bishop  of  any  Diocese.  The  Bishop  in 
each  Diocese  may  also  compose  forms  of  prayer  to  be 
used  before  legislative  and  other  public  bodies." 


Performance  of 
Episcopal  Duties 
in  vacant  Dio- 
ceses, Sfc. 


Invitation,  tem- 
porary and  re- 
vocable. 


^  XV.  [1.]  Any  Bishop,  Assistant-Bishop,  or  Missionary 
Bishop,  may,  on  the  invitation  of  the  Convention  or  the 
Standing  Committee  of  any  Diocese  where  there  is  no 
Bishop,  or  where  the  Bishop  is,  for  the  time,  under  a 
disability  to  perform  Episcopal  Offices  by  reason  of  a 
judicial  sentence,  visit  and  perform  Episcopal  Offices  in 
that  Diocese,  or  in  any  part  thereof;  and  this  invitation 
may  be  temporary,  and  it  may  at  any  time  be  revoked. 


48 


Canon  iii.,  1853. 


b  Canon  xlvii.,  1832. 


Canon  13. 


§  XVI 


Of  Bishops. 


[2.]  A  Diocese  without  a  Bishop,  or  of  which  the 
Bishop  is  for  the  time  under  a  disabiUty  by  reason  of  a 
judicial  sentence,  may,  by  its  Convention,  be  placed 
under  the  full  Episcopal  charge  and  authority  of  the 
Bishop  of  another  Diocese,  or  of  a  Missionary  Bishop, 
who  shall  by  that  act  be  authorized  to  perform  all  the 
duties  and  offices  of  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  so  va- 
cant or  having  the  Bishop  disabled  ;  until,  in  the  case 
of  a  vacant  Diocese,  a  Bishop  be  duly  elected  and  con- 
secrated for  the  same  ;  and,  in  the  case  of  a  Diocese  whose 
Bishop  is  disqualified  as  aforesaid,  until  the  disqualifica- 
tion be  removed ;  or  until,  in  either  case,  the  said  act  of 
the  Convention  be  revoked. 

[3.]  No  Diocese  thus  placed  under  the  full  charge  and 
authority  of  the  Bishop  of  another  Diocese,  or  of  a  Mis- 
sionary Bishop,  shall  invite  a  second  Bishop  to  perform 
any  Episcopal  duty,  or  exercise  authority,  till  its  connec- 
tion with  the  first  Bishop  has  expired  or  is  revoked.* 

k  XVI.  [1.]  If,  during  the  session  of  the  General  Con- 
vention, or  within  six  calendar  months  before  the  meet- 
ing of  any  such  Convention,  a  Bishop  shall  desire  to  resign 
his  jurisdiction,  he  shall  make  known  in  writing  to  the 
House  of  Bishops  such  his  desire,  together  with  the 
reasons  moving  him  thereto,  whereupon  the  House  of 
Bishops  may  investigate  the  whole  case  of  the  proposed 
resignation,  including  not  only  the  facts  and  reasons  that 
may  be  set  forth  in  the  application  for  the  proposed  res- 
ignation, but  any  other  facts  and  circumstances  bearing 
upon  it,  so  that  the  whole  subject  of  the  propriety  or  ne- 

»  Canon  iv.,  1847. 


Full  Charge  of 
another  Bishop. 


No  other  Bishop 
to  officiate  dur- 
ing such  Charge. 


Of  Episcopal 
Resignations. 


Investigation. 


49 


title  I. 


Canon     13, 


X  V  I 


Of  Bishops. 


House  of 
Bishops  to  Ac- 
cept or  Refuse. 


Resignation  du- 
ring Recess. 


The  Bishops  to 
meet. 


cessity  of  such  resignation  may  be  placed  fully  before 
the  House  of  Bishops. 

[2.]  An  investigation  having  thus  been  made,  the 
House  of  Bishops  may  decide  on  the  application ;  and, 
by  the  vote  of  a  majority  of  those  present,  accept  or 
refuse  to  accept  such  resignation ;  and  in  all  cases  of  a 
proposed  resignation,  the  Bishops  shall  cause  their  pro- 
ceedings to  be  recorded  on  their  journal ;  and  in  case  of 
acceptance,  the  resignation  shall  be  complete  when  thus 
recorded ;  and  notice  thereof  shall  be  given  to  the  House 
of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies. 

[3.]  In  case  a  Bishop  should  desire  to  resign  at  any 
period  not  within  six  calendar  months  before  the  meet- 
ing of  a  Greneral  Convention,  he  shall  make  known  to 
the  Presiding  Bishop  such  his  desire,  with  the  reasons 
moving  him  thereunto  ;  whereupon  the  Presiding  Bishop 
shall  communicate,  without  delay,  a  copy  of  the  same 
to  every  Bishop  of  this  Church  having  ecclesiastical 
jurisdiction,  and  also  to  the  Standing  Committee  of 
the  Diocese  to  which  the  Bishop  desiring  to  resign 
may  belong ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  summon  said 
Bishops  to  meet  him  in  person,  at  a  place  to  be  by 
him  designated,  and  at  a  time  not  less  than  three 
calendar  months  from  the  date  of  his  summons;  and 
should  a  number  not  less  than  a  majority  of  all  the 
said  Bishops  meet  at  the  time  and  place  designated,  they 
shall  then  have  all  the  powers  given  by  the  previous 
clauses  of  this  Section  to  the  House  of  Bishops ;  and 
should  a  number  less  than  a  majority  assemble,  they 
shall  have  power  to  adjourn  from  time  to  time,  until 
they  can  secure  the  attendance  of  a  majority  of  all  the 
said  Bishops.     Should  a  proposed  resignation  of  a  Bishop 


50 


Of  Bishops, 


be  accepted  at  any  meeting  of  the  Bishops  for  that  pur- 
pose held  during  a  recess,  then  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  senior  Bishop  present  to  pronounce  such  resignation 
complete,  and  to  communicate  the  same  to  the  ecclesi- 
astical authority  of  each  Diocese,  who  shall  cause  the 
same  to  be  communicated  to  the  several  clergymen  in 
charge  of  congregations  therein.  And  it  shall  be  the  fur- 
ther duty  of  the  Presiding  Bishop  to  cause  such  resigna- 
tion to  be  formally  recorded  on  the  journal  of  the  House 
of  Bishops  that  may  meet  in  General  Convention  next 
thereafter.  If  the  Bishop  desirous  of  resigning  should  be 
the  Presiding  Bishop,  then  all  the  duties  directed  in  this 
Section  to  be  performed  by  the  Presiding  Bishop  shall  de- 
volve upon  the  Bishop  next  in  seniority'. 

[4.]  No  Bishop  whose  resignation  of  the  Episcopal 
jurisdiction  of  a  Diocese  has  been  consummated  pursuant 
to  this  section,  shall,  under  any  circumstances,  be  eligi- 
ble to  any  Diocese  now  in  union,  or  which  may  hereaf- 
ter be  admitted  into  union,  with  this  Church ;  nor  shall 
he  have  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Bishops  ;  but  he  may 
perform  Episcopal  acts  at  the  request  of  any  Bishop  of 
this  Church  having  ecclesiastical  jurisdiction,  within  the 
limits  of  his  Diocese. 

[5.  J  A  Bishop  who  ceases  to  have  the  Episcopal  charge 
of  a  Diocese  shall  still  be  subject  in  all  matters  to  the 
Canons  and  authority  of  the  General  Convention. 

[6.]  In  case  a  suspended  Bishop  of  this  Church  should 
desire  to  resign  at  any  period  not  within  six  calendar 
months  before  the  meeting  of  a  General  Convention,  he 
shall  make  known  by  letter  to  the  Presiding  Bishop  such 
desire;  whereupon  the  presiding  Bishop  shall  communicate 
a  copy  of  the  same  to  each  Bishop  of  this  Church  having 


Notice. 


Record. 


If  Presiding 
Bishop. 


Resigned  Bishop 
not  eligible  to  a 
Diocese. 


Bishops  without 
Charge  subject  to 
General  Conven- 
tion. 

Resignation  of 
suspended 
Bishop. 


n\ 


title  I. 


Canon    14 


I,  II 


Notice. 


Secretary  of  the 
Lovier  House  to 
keep  a  Register. 


Notification 

of  admitted 
Ministers. 

52 


Of  a  List  of  the  Ministers  of  this  Church. 


jurisdiction ;  and,  in  case  a  majority  of  such  Bishops  shall 
return  to  the  Presiding  Bishop  their  written  assent  to 
such  resignation,  the  same  shall  be  deemed  valid  and 
final ;  and  written  information  of  the  said  resignation 
shall  at  once  be  communicated  by  the  presiding  Bishop 
to  the  Bishop  and  Diocese  concerned,  and  to  each  Bishop 
of  this  Church." 


Canon   14. 

Of  a  List  of  the  Ministers  of  this  Church. 

k  I.  The  Secretary  of  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay 
Deputies  shall  keep  a  register  of  all  the  Clergy  of  this 
Church,  whose  names  shall  be  delivered  to  him,  in  the 
following  manner,  that  is  to  say  :  Every  Bishop  of  this 
Church,  or  where  there  is  no  Bishop  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  the  Diocese,  shall,  at  the  time  of  every  Greneral 
Convention,  deliver,  or  cause  to  be  delivered,  to  the  said 
Secretary,  a  list  of  the  names  of  all  the  Ministers  of  this 
Church  in  their  proper  Diocese,  annexing  the  names  of 
their  respective  cures  or  of  their  stations  in  any  colleges 
or  other  seminaries  of  learning  ;  or,  in  regard  to  those 
who  have  not  any  cures  or  other  stations,  their  places  of 
residence  only;  and  the  said  list  shall,  from  time  to 
time,  be  published  in  the  journals  of  the  G-eneral  Con- 
vention. 

§  II.  And,  further,  it  is  recommended  to  the  several 
Bishops  of  this   Church,  and  to  the  several   Standing 

»  Canon  ii.,  1850. 


Canon     15 


§1 


Mode  of  Securmg  an  Accurate  Vieic,  etc. 


Committees,  that,  during  the  intervals  between  the 
meetings  of  the  G-eneral  Convention,  they  take  such 
means  of  notifying  the  admission  of  Ministers  among 
them,  as,  in  their  discretion,  respectively,  they  shall 
think  effectual  to  the  purpose  of  preventing  ignorant 
and  unwary  people  from  being  imposed  on  by  persons 
pretending  to  be  authorized  Ministers  of  this  Church.* 


Canon 


15. 


Of  the  Mode  of  securing'  an  accurate  View  of  the  State 
of  the  Church. 

^  I.  As  a  full  and  accurate  view  of  the  state  of  the 
Church,  from  time  to  time,  is  highly  useful  and  neces- 
sary, it  is  hereby  ordered  that  every  Minister  of  this 
Church,  or  if  the  parish  be  vacant  the  Wardens,  shall 
present,  or  cause  to  be  delivered,  on  or  before  the  first 
day  of  every  Annual  Convention,  to  the  Bishop  of  the 
Diocese,  or  where  there  is  no  Bishop  to  the  President  of 
the  Convention,  a  statement  of  the  number  of  baptisms, 
confirmations,  marriages  and  funerals,  and  of  the  number 
of  communicants  in  his  parish  or  Church,  also  the  state 
and  condition  of  the  Sunday  Schools  in  his  parish,  also 
of  the  amount  of  the  Communion  alms,  the  contributions 
for  missions,  diocesan,  domestic  and  foreign,  for  parochial 
schools,  for  Church  purposes  in  general,  and  of  all  other 
matters  that  may  throw  light  on  the  state  of  the  same. 
And  every  clergyman,  not  regularly  settled  in  any  parish 
or  Church,  shall  also  report  the  occasional  services  he 


Statement  by 
Minister  in  Pa- 
rochial Reports. 


Clergymen  not 
settled,  to  report 
Services. 


»  Canon  xlviii.,  1832. 


53 


title  I. 


Canon    15. 


II.,  Ill, 


Bishop's  Ad- 
dress. 


Committee  on  the 
State  of  the 
Church. 


Mode  of  Securing  an  Accurate  View,  etc. 


Pastoral  Letter. 


54 


raay  have  performed  ;  and,  if  he  have  performed  no  such 
services,  the  causes  or  reasons  which  have  prevented  the 
same.  And  these  reports,  or  such  parts  of  them  as  the 
Bishop  shall  think  fit,  may  be  read  in  Convention,  and 
shall  be  entered  on  the  journals  thereof. 

§  II.  At  every  annual  Diocesan  Convention,  the 
Bishop  shall  deliver  an  address,  stating  the  affairs  of  the 
Diocese  since  the  last  meeting  of  the  Convention ;  the 
names  of  the  Churches  which  he  has  visited  ;  the  num- 
ber of  persons  confirmed  ;  the  names  of  those  who  have 
been  received  as  candidates  for  Orders,  and  of  those  who 
have  been  ordained,  suspended,  or  degraded  ;  the  changes 
by  death,  removal,  or  otherwise,  which  have  taken  place 
among  the  Clergy ;  and,  in  general,  all  matters  tending 
to  throw  light  on  the  affairs  of  the  Diocese ;  which 
address  shall  be  inserted  on  the  journals. 

^  III.  At  every  General  Convention,  the  journals  of 
the  difierent  Diocesan  Conventions  since  the  last  General 
Convention,  together  with  such  other  papers,  viz. :  Epis- 
copal charges,  addresses,  and  pastoral  letters,  as  may 
tend  to  throw  light  on  the  state  of  the  Church  in  each 
Diocese,  shall  be  presented  to  the  House  of  Clerical  and 
Lay  Deputies.  A  Committee  shall  then  be  appointed  to 
draw  up  a  view  of  the  State  of  the  Church,  and  to  make 
report  to  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  ;  which 
report,  when  agreed  to  by  the  said  House,  shall  be  sent 
to  the  House  of  Bishops,  with  a  request  that  they  will 
draw  up,  and  cause  to  be  published,  a  Pastoral  Letter  to 
the  members  of  the  Church.  And  it  is  hereby  made  the 
duty   of  every   clergyman   having   a   pastoral   charge, 


Canon    15 


§IV.,  V 


Mode  of  Securing  an  Accurate  View  etc. 


when  any  such  Letter  is  published,  to  read  the  said  Pas- 
toral Letter  to  his  congregation  on  some  occasion  of 
public  worship. 

§  IV.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Con- 
vention of  every  Diocese,  or  of  the  person  or  persons 
with  whom  the  journals  or  other  ecclesiastical  papers 
are  lodged,  to  forward  to  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay 
Deputies,  at  every  General  Convention,  the  documents 
and  papers  specified  in  this  Canon. 

k  V.  It  is  recommended  that  the  Bishop  and  Standing 
Committee  of  the  Church  in  every  Diocese,  or,  if  there 
be  no  Bishop,  the  Standing  Committee  only,  prepare, 
previously  to  the  meeting  of  every  General  Convention, 
a  condensed  report,  and  a  tabular  view  of  the  slate  of  the 
Church  in  their  Diocese,  comprising  therein  a  summary 
of  the  statistics  from  the  parochial  reports,  and  from  the 
Bishop's  addresses,  specifying  the  capital  and  proceeds  of 
the  Episcopal  fund,  and  of  all  benevolent  and  missionary 
associations  of  churchmen  within  the  Diocese,  for  the 
purpose  of  aiding  the  Committee  on  the  state  of  the 
Church,  appointed  by  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay 
Deputies,  in  drafting  their  reports." 

»  Canon  xii.,  1853. 


To  he  read  to  every 
Congregation. 


Duty  of  Diocesan 
Secretaries. 


Recommenda- 
tion to  Bishop, 
etc. 


Condensed  Sum- 
mary. 


55 


^ttU    I.  Canons   16   and   17. 


§1 


Editions  of  the 
Bible  to  be  Cor- 
rected by  the 
Standard- 


Certificate. 


Correct  Editions 
of  the  Prayer- 
Book,  Sfc. 


Certificate. 


56 


Of  the  Mode  of  Publishing  the  Bible.,  etc. 


Canon  16. 

Of  the  Mode  of  Publishing  authorized  Editions  of 
the  Standard  Bible  of  this  Church. 

The  Bishop  of  this  Church  in  any  Diocese,  or  where 
there  is  no  Bishop  the  Standing  Committee,  is  author- 
ized to  appoint,  from  time  to  time,  some  suitable  person 
or  persons,  to  compare  and  correct  all  new  editions  of 
the  Bible  by  the  standard  edition  agreed  upon  by  the 
General  Convention,  and  a  certificate  of  their  having 
been  so  compared  and  corrected  shall  be  published  with 
said  book,* 


Canon   17. 

Of  Publishing    Editions   of    the  Book    of   Common 
Prayer. 

k  1.  The  Bishop  of  this  Church  in  any  Diocese,  or, 
where  there  is  no  Bishop,  the  Standing  Committee  there- 
of, shall  appoint  one  or  more  Presbyters  of  the  Diocese, 
who  shall  compare  and  correct  all  new  editions  of  the 
Common  Prayer-Book,  the  Articles,  Offices,  Metre  Psalms 
and  Hymns,  by  a  copy  of  the  standard  edition;  and  a 
certificate  of  said  editions,  having  been  so  compared  and 
corrected,  shall  be  published  with  the  same.  And  in 
case  any  edition  shall  be  published  without  such  correc- 
tion, it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Bishop,  or,  where  there 
be  no  Bishop,  of  the  Standing  Committee,  to  give  public 
notice  that  such  edition  is  not  authorized  by  the  Church. 

^  Canon  xliv.,  1832. 


Canons    18    and    19 


Of  the  due,  Celebration  of  Sundays. 


k  11.  The  octavo  edition  of  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  the  Articles,  Offices,  Metre  Psalms,  and  Hymns, 
set  forth  by  the  Greneral  Convention  of  1844,  and  pub- 
lished by  the  New- York  Bible  and  Common  Prayer- 
Book  Society,  and  by  Harper  &  Brothers,  in  1845,  is 
hereby  declared  to  be  the  standard  edition." 


Canon   18. 

Of  the  due  Celebration  of  Sundays. 

All  persons  within  this  Church  shall  celebrate  and 
keep  the  Lord's  day,  commonly  called  Sunday,  in  hear- 
ing the  "Word  of  G-od  read  and  taught,  in  private  and 
public  prayer,  in  other  exercises  of  devotion,  and  in  acts 
of  charity,  using  all  godly  and  sober  conversation." 


Canon    19. 

Of  Parochial  Instruction. 

The  Ministers  of  this  Church  who  have  charge  of 
parishes  or  cures,  shall  not  only  be  diligent  in  instructing 
the  children  in  the  Catechism,  but  shall  also,  by  stated 
catechetical  lectures  and  instruction,  be  diligent  in  in- 
forming the  youth  and  others  in  the  Doctrine,  Constitu- 
tion and  Liturgy  of  the  Church." 


»  Canon  vii.,  1847.         "  Canon  xli.,  1832. 


Canon  xxviii.,  1832. 


What  is  the 
Standard  Edi- 
tion. 


Observance  of  the 
hordes  Day. 


Parochial  In- 
struction. 


57 


Citk  I. 


Canon     20 


Of  the  Use  of  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 


Use  of  the  Book 
of   Common 
Prayer. 


Canon   20, 

Of  the   Use  of  the  Book  of   Common  Prayer. 

Every  minister  shall,  before  all  sermons  and  lectures, 
and  on  all  other  occasions  of  public  worship,  use  the 
Book  of  Common  Prayer,  as  the  same  is  or  may  be 
established  by  the  authority  of  the  Greneral  Convention 
of  this  Church  ;  and  in  performing  such  service,  no  other 
prayers  shall  be  used  than  those  prescribed  by  the  said 
Book.'' 


Canon  xlv.,  1832. 


58 


C  A  NO  N     1  . 


h 


1 1 1 


title  II. 


OF  DISCIPLINE. 


Canon   1. 


Of  Amenability  and  Citations. 

§  I.  Every  Minister  shall  be  amenable,  for  offences  com- 
mitted by  him,  to  the  Bishop,  and  if  there  be  no  Bishop 
to  the  clerical  members  of  the  Standing  Committee,  of 
the  Diocese  in  which  he  is  canonically  resident  at  the 
time  of  the  charge. 


To  whom  Min- 
isters are  amena- 
ble. 


§  II.  Unless  a  Diocesan  Convention  shall  otherwise 
provide,  a  citation  to  any  Minister  to  appear,  at  a  certain 
time  and  place,  for  the  trial  of  an  offence,  shall  be  deemed 
to  be  duly  served  upon  him  if  a  copy  thereof  be  left  at 
his  last  place  of  abode  within  the  United  States,  sixty 
days  before  the  day  of  appearance  named  therein  ;  and 
in  case  such  Minister  has  departed  from  the  United 
States,  by  also  publishing  a  copy  of  such  citation  in  some 
newspaper  printed  at  the  seat  of  government  of  the 
State  in  which  the  Minister  is  cited  to  appear,  six  months 
before  the  said  day  of  appearance." 


Mode  of  serving 
Citations. 


§  III.  A  notice  or  citation  required  by  any  Canon  of 
this  Church,  when  no  other  mode  of  service  is  provided, 
may  be'served  by  leaving  a  copy  with  the  party,  or  at  his 

^  Canon  v.,  1835. 


Of  Notices  in 
general. 


59 


®itle  II. 


Canon    2 


I.,  II 


Of  Offences  for  which  Ministers  may  he  Tried,  etc. 


last  place  of  abode  within  the  United  States  ;  and  if  he 
shall  have  left  the  United  States,  by  also  publishing  a 
copy  thereof  in  some  newspaper  printed  at  the  seat  of 
government  of  the  State  or  Territory  where  such  party 
last  resided.* 


Punishable  Of- 
fences. 


Proceedings  on 
Public  Rumor. 


60 


C  ANON    2. 

Of  Offences  for  which  Ministers  may  be    Tried  and 
Punished. 

k  I.  Every  Minister  shall  be  liable  to  presentment 
and  trial,  for  any  crime  or  gross  immorality,  for  dis- 
orderly conduct,  for  drunkenness,  for  profane  swearing, 
for  frequenting  places  most  liable  to  be  abused  to  licen- 
tiousness, and  for  violation  of  the  Constitution  or  Canons 
of  this  Church,  or  of  the  Diocese  to  which  he  belongs ; 
and,  on  being  found  guilty,  he  shall  be  admonished,  sus- 
pended, or  degraded,  according  to  the  Canons  of  the 
Diocese  in  which  the  trial  takes  place,  until  otherwise 
provided  for  by  the  General  Convention. 

§  II.  If  a  Minister  of  this  Church  shall  be  accused, 
by  public  rumor,  of  discontinuing  all  exercise  of  the 
ministerial  office  without  lawful  cause,  or  of  living  in 
the  habitual  disuse  of  public  worship  or  of  the  Holy 
Eucharist  according  to  the  offices  of  this  Church,  or  of 
being  guilty  of  scandalous,  immoral,  or  disorderly  con- 
duct, or  of  violating  the  Canons,  or  preaching  or  incul- 
cating heretical  doctrine,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of   the 

»  Added,  1859. 


Canon 


§1 


Misdemeanor  in  another  Diocese. 


Bishop,  or  if  there  be  no  Bishop  of  the  clerical  members 
of  the  Standing  Committee,  to  see  that  an  inquiry  be 
instituted  as  to  the  truth  of  such  public  rumor.  And 
in  case  of  the  individual  being  proceeded  against  and. 
convicted  according  to  such  rules  or  process  as  may  be 
provided  by  the  Conventions  of  the  respective  Dioceses, 
he  shall  be  admonished,  suspended,  or  degraded,  as  the 
nature  of  the  case  may  require,  in  conformity  with  their 
respective  Constitutions  and  Canons." 


Canon  3. 

Of  a  Clergyman  in  one  Diocese  or  Missionary  Dis- 
trict chargeable  with  Misdet7ieanor  in  another. 

^  I.  If  a  clergyman  of  this  Church,  belonging  to  any 
Diocese  or  Missionary  District,  shall,  in  any  other  Dio- 
cese or  Missionary  District,  conduct  himself  in  such  a 
way  as  is  contrary  to  the  rules  of  this  Church,  and  dis- 
graceful to  his  office,  the  ecclesiastical  authority  thereof 
shall  give  notice  of  the  same  to  the  ecclesiastical  au- 
thority where  he  is  canonically  resident,  exhibiting,  with 
the  information  given,  reasonable  ground  for  presuming 
its  correctness.  If  the  ecclesiastical  authority,  when  thus 
notified,  shall  omit,  for  the  space  of  three  months,  to  pro- 
ceed against  the  offending  clergyman,  it  shall  be  within 
the  power  of  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  the  Diocese 
or  Missionary  District  within  which  the  alleged  offence 
or  offences  were  committed,  to  institute  proceedings,  and 
the  decision  given  shall  be  conclusive. 

*  Canon   xxxvii.,  1832. 


Punishments. 


Offence  com- 
mitted in  a  dif- 
ferent Diocese. 


Notice  to  Au- 
thority of  Offend- 
er's Diocese. 


Proceedings  on 
Neglect  to  act. 


61 


title  II. 


Canon     3 . 


§  II.,  Ill 


Misdemeanor  in  another  Diocese, 


Bishop  may  ad- 
monish and  for- 
bid Officiating. 


Notice  of  Prohi- 
bition. 


Prohibition  how 
Ions;  to  continue. 


^  11.  If  a  clergyman  shall  come  temporarily  into  any 
Diocese,  under  the  imputation  of  having  elsewhere  been 
guilty  of  any  crime  or  misdemeanor,  by  violation  of 
the  Canons  or  otherwise,  or  if  any  clergyman,  while 
sojourning  in  any  Diocese,  shall  misbehave  in  any  of 
these  respects,  the  Bishop,  upon  probable  cause,  may  ad- 
monish such  clergyman,  and  forbid  him  to  officiate  in 
said  Diocese.  And  if,  after  such  prohibition,  the  said 
clergyman  so  officiate,  the  Bishop  shall  give  notice  to  all 
the  clergy  and  congregations  in  said  Diocese,  that  the 
officiating  of  the  said  clergyman  is,  under  any  and  all 
circumstances,  prohibited  ;  and  like  notice  shall  be  given 
to  the  Bishop,  or  if  there  be  no  Bishop  to  the  Standing 
Committee,  of  the  Diocese  to  which  the  said  clergyman 
belongs.  And  such  prohibition  shall  continue  in  force, 
until  the  Bishop  of  the  first  named  Diocese  be  satisfied 
of  the  innocence  of  the  said  clergyman,  or  until  he  be 
acquitted  on  trial. 


Applicable  to 
Clergymen  or- 
dained in  For- 
eign Countries. 


Notice  of  Pro- 
hibition. 


^  in.  The  provisions  of  the  last  Section  shall  apply  to 
clergymen  ordained  in  foreign  countries  by  Bishops  in 
communion  with  this  Church.  Provided,  that  in  such 
case  notice  of  the  prohibition  shall  be  given  to  the  Bishop 
under  whose  jurisdiction  the  clergyman  shall  appear  to 
have  last  been,  and  also  to  all  the  Bishops  exercising 
jurisdiction  in  this  Church." 

»  Canon  \i.,  1850. 


62 


Canon     4 


Of  the  Dissolution  of  a  Pastoral  Connection. 


Canon    4. 

Of  the  Dissolution  of  a  Pastoral  Connection. 

k  I.  When  a  Minister  has  been  regularly  instituted  or 
settled  in  a  Parish  or  Church,  he  shall  not  be  dismissed 
without  the  concurrence  of  the  ecclesiastical  authority 
of  the  Diocese  ;  and  in  case  of  his  dismission  without 
such  concurrence,  the  Vestry  or  Congregation  of  such 
Parish  or  Church  shall  have  no  right  to  a  representation 
in  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese,  until  they  have  made 
such  satisfaction  as  the  Convention  may  require.  Nor 
shall  any  Minister  leave  his  congregation  against  their 
will,  without  the  concurrence  of  the  ecclesiastical  autho- 
rity aforesaid  ;  and  if  he  shall  leave  them  without  such 
concurrence,  he  shall  not  be  allowed  to  take  his  seat  in 
any  Convention  of  this  Church,  or  be  eligible  into  any 
Church  or  Parish,  until  he  shall  have  made  such  satis- 
faction as  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  the  Diocese  may 
require. 

k  II.  In  case  of  the  regular  and  canonical  dissolution 
of  the  connection  between  a  Minister  and  his  congrega- 
tion, the  Bishop,  or  if  there  be  no  Bishop  the  Standing 
Committee,  shall  direct  the  Secretary  of  the  Convention 
to  record  the  same.  But  if  the  dissolution  of  the  con- 
nection between  a  Minister  and  his  congregation  be 
not  regular  or  canonical,  the  Bishop  or  Standing  Com- 
mittee shall  lay  the  same  before  the  Convention  of  the 
Diocese,  in  order  that  the  above-mentioned  penalties  may 
take  effect. 

This  Canon  shall  not  be  obligatory  on  those  Dioceses 
with  whose  usages,  laws,  or  charters,  it  interferes." 

>  Canon  xxxiii.,  1832. 


No  Dismi!isai  of 
settled  Minister 
without  Consent 
of  Authority. 


Minister  not  to 
leave  without 
Concurrence  of 
Authority. 


Record  upon  Re- 
gular Dissolu- 
tion. 


Submission  to 
Convention  in 
other  Cases. 


63 


Qlitit  II. 


Canon     5 


l.-I  V 


Renunciation 
when  no  ecclesi- 
astical Proceed- 
ing is  pending. 


Bishop  to  depose. 


When  Bishop  of 
another  Diocese 
may  sentence. 


Action  may  be 
suspended  for 
six  Months. 


Renunciation 
under  Liability 
to  Presentment. 

64 


Of  Renunciation  of  the  Ministry. 


Canon   5. 

Of  Renunciation  of  the  Ministry. 

^  I.  If  any  Minister  of  this  Church,  against  whom 
there  is  no  ecclesiastical  proceeding  instituted,  shall  de- 
clare, in  writing,  to  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  to  which 
he  belongs,  or  to  any  ecclesiastical  authority  for  the  trial 
of  a  clergyman,  or  where  there  is  no  Bishop  to  the 
Standing  Committee,  his  renunciation  of  the  ministry, 
and  his  design  not  to  officiate  in  future  in  any  of  the 
offices  thereof,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  Ihe  Bishop,  or 
where  there  is  no  Bishop  of  the  Standing  Committee,  to 
record  the  declaration  so  made  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Bishop  to  depose  him  from  the  Ministry,  and  to 
pronounce  and  record  in  the  presence  of  two  or  more 
clergymen,  that  the  person  so  declaring  has  been  de- 
posed from  the  Ministry  of  this  Church, 

^11.  In  any  Diocese  in  which  there  is  no  Bishop,  the 
same  sentence  may  be  pronounced  by  the  Bishop  of  any 
other  Diocese  invited  by  the  Standing  Committee  to 
attend  for  that  purpose. 

^  III.  If  the  Bishop,  to  whom  such  declaration  re- 
nouncing the  Ministry  is  made,  shall  have  reason  to 
believe  that  the  party  has  acted  unadvisedly  and  hastily, 
he  may  forbear  all  action  thereupon  for  the  space  of  not 
more  than  six  months,  during  which  time  the  party  may 
withdraw  his  application. 

^  IV.  If  the  Bishop  shall  have  ground  to  suppose  the 
party  to  be  liable  to  presentment  for  any  canonical 
offence,  he  may,  in  his  discretion,  and  with  the  consent 


Canon      6 . 


§1 


Abandonment  by  a  Presbyter  or  Deacon. 


of  the  Standing  Committee,  proceed  to  have  the  appli- 
cant put  upon  his  trial,  notwithstanding  his  having 
made  the  aforesaid  declaration ;  and  the  same  discretion 
is  allowed  to  the  Standing  Committee,  in  case  the  Dio- 
cese should  be  without  a  Bishop. 

k  V.  In  the  case  of  deposition  from  the  Ministry,  as 
above  provided  for,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Bishop  to 
give  notice  thereof  to  every  Bishop  of  this  Church,  and 
to  the  Standing  Committee  of  every  Diocese  wherein 
there  is  no  Bishop." 


Canon   6. 

Of  the  Abandonment  of  the  Communion  of  this  Church 
by  a  Presbyter  or  Deacon. 

k  I.  If  any  Presbyter  or  Deacon  shall,  without  availing 
himself  of  the  provisions  of  Canon  V.  of  this  Title, 
abandon  the  Communion  of  this  Church,  either  by  an 
open  renunciation  of  the  doctrine,  discipline,  and  worship 
of  this  Church,  or  by  a  formal  admission  into  any  reli- 
gious botly  not  in  communion  with  the  same,  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese  to 
make  certificate  of  the  fact  to  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese, 
or,  if  there  be  no  Bishop,  to  the  Bishop  of  an  adjacent 
Diocese;  which  certificate  shall  be  recorded,  and  shall  be 
taken  and  deemed  by  the  ecclesiastical  authority  as 
equivalent  to  a  renunciation  of  the  Ministry  by  the  Min- 
ister himself.  Notice  shall  then  be  given  to  the  said 
Minister,  by  the  said  Bishop  receiving  the  certificate, 

»  Canon  v.,  1850. 


Trial  may  pro- 
ceed. 


Notice  of  Depo- 
sition. 


Abandonment 
without  Renun- 
ciation. 


Certificate. 


Notice. 


65 


Citk  II. 


C  ANO  N       7. 


A  Cler'gyman  absenting  himself  from  his  Diocese. 


Deposition  after 
six  Months. 


Proviso. 


that  unless  he  shall,  within  six  months,  make  declara- 
tion that  the  facts  alleged  in  said  certificate  are  false,  he 
will  be  deposed  from  the  Ministry  of  this  Church. 

^  II.  And  if  such  declaration  be  not  made  within  six 
months  as  aforesaid,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Bishop  to 
depose  said  Minister  from  the  Ministry,  and  to  pronounce 
and  record,  in  the  presence  of  two  or  more  Presbyters, 
that  he  has  been  so  deposed. 

Provided,  nevertheless,  that  if  the  Minister  so  re- 
nouncing shall  transmit,  to  the  Bishop  receiving  the  cer- 
tificate, a  retraction  of  the  acts  or  declarations  constituting 
his  offence,  the  Bishop  may,  at  his  discretion,  abstain 
from  any  further  proceedings. 


Absence  for  two 
Years,    when 
Ground  of  Sus- 
pension. 


Duration  of  Sen- 
tence. 


66 


Canon    7. 

Of  a  Clergyman  absenting  himself  from  his  Diocese. 

When  a  clergyman  has  been  absent  from  the  Diocese 
to  which  he  belongs,  during  two  years,  without  reasons 
satisfactory  to  the  Bishop  thereof,  he  shall  be  required 
by  the  Bishop  to  declare  the  cause  or  causes  thereof  in 
writing ;  and  if  he  refuse  to  give  his  reasons,  or  if  they 
be  deemed  insufficient  by  the  Bishop,  the  Bishop  may, 
with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  clerical  members  of 
the  Standing  Committee,  suspend  him  from  the  minis- 
try ;  which  suspension  shall  continue  until  he  shall  give, 
in  writing,  sufficient  reasons  for  his  absence  ;  or  until  he 
shall  renew  his  residence  in  his  Diocese ;  or  until  he 
shall  renounce  the   Ministry  according  to  Canon   5  of 

^  Canon  of  1859. 


Canon  8, 


Abandonrnent  by  a  Bishop. 


this  Title.  In  the  case  of  such  suspension  as  above  pro- 
vided for,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Bishop  to  give 
notice  thereof  to  every  Bishop  of  this  Church,  and  to 
the  Standing  Committee  of  every  Diocese  wherein  there 
is  no  Bishop." 


Canon  8. 

Of  the  Abandonment  of  the  Communion  of  the   Church 
by  a  Bishop. 

If  any  Bishop,  without  availing  himself  of  the  provis- 
ions of  Section  XVI.  of  Canon  13  of  Title  I.,  abandon  the 
Communion  of  this"  Church,  either  by  an  open  renunci- 
ation of  the  doctrine,  discipline,  and  worship  of  this 
Church,  or  by  a  formal  admission  into  any  religious 
body  not  in  communion  with  the  same,  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  Standing  Committee  of  the  Diocese  to  make 
certificate  of  the  fact  to  the  senior  Bishop,  which  certi- 
ficate shall  be  recorded,  and  shall  be  taken  and  deemed 
as  equivalent  to  a  renunciation  of  the  Ministry  by  the 
Bishop  himself. 

Notice  shall  then  be  given  to  said  Bishop  by  the  said 
Bishop  receiving  the  certificate,  that  unless  he  shall, 
within  six  months,  make  declaration  that  the  facts 
alleged  in  said  certificate  are  false,  he  will  be  deposed 
from  the  Ministry  of  this  Church. 

And  if  such  declaration  be  not  made  within  six 
months  as  aforesaid,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  senior 
Bishop,  with  the  consent  of  the  majority  of  the  House 

»  Canon  ii..  1841. 


Notice  to  be  giv- 
en. 


Abandonment  of 
Communion  by  a 
Bishop. 


Notice  to  be 
given. 


Deposition. 


67 


title  II. 


Canon    9  . 


I.,  II 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


Proviso. 


of  Bishops,  to  depose  from  the  Ministry  the  Bishop  so 
certified  as  abandoning,  and  to  pronounce  and  record,  in 
the  presence  of  two  or  more  Bishops,  that  he  has  been 
so  deposed. 

Provided,  nevertheless,  that  if  the  Bishop  so  certified 
as  abandoning,  shall  transmit  to  the  senior  Bishop  a  re- 
traction of  the  acts  or  declarations  constituting  his 
offence,  the  Bishop  ma.y,  at  his  discretion,  abstain  from 
any  further  proceedings.^ 


Offences  for 
which   a  Bishop 
may  be  tried. 


Canon  9. 

Of  the   Trial,  of  a  Bishop. 

^  1.  Any  Bishop  of  this  Church  may  be  presented  for 
trial  on  charges  for  the  follow^ing  offences,  viz. :  1.  Crime 
or  immorality.  2.  Holding  and  teaching  publicly,  or 
privately  and  advisedly,  any  doctrine  contrary  to  that 
held  by  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States.  3.  Violation  of  the  Constitution  or  Canons  of 
the  Greneral  Convention.  4.  Violation  of  the  Constitu- 
tion or  Canons  of  the  Diocese  to  which  he  belongs. 
5.  Any  act  which  involves  a  breach  of  his  Ordination  or 
Consecration  vows. 


Charges  in  Wri- 
ting. 


h  II.  [1.]  The  proceedings  shall  commence  by  charges 
in  writing;  and,  except  when  the  charge  is  holding  and 
teaching  doctrine  contrary  to  that  held  by  this  Church, 
shall  be  signed  by  either. 


68 


»   Canon  of  1859. 


Canon     9 


§" 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


Five  male  communicants  of  this  Church,  in  good 
standing,  belonging  to  the  Diocese  of  the  accused,  of 
whom  two  at  least  must  be  Presbyters  ;  or. 

By  seven  male  communicants  of  this  Church,  in  good 
standing,  of  whom  two  at  least  shall  be  Presbyters,  and 
three  of  which  seven  shall  belong  to  the  Diocese  of  the 
accused. 

[2.]  Whenever  a  Bishop  of  this  Church  shall  have 
reason  to  believe  that  there  are  in  circulation  rumors, 
reports,  or  charges  affecting  his  moral  or  religious  char- 
acter, he  may,  if  he  please,  acting  in  conformity  w^ith 
the  written  advice  and  consent  of  any  two  of  his  brother 
Bishops  whom  he  may  select,  demand  of  the  Presiding 
Bishop  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  or  if  he  be  the  Bishop 
affected  by  such  rumors,  or  if  he  be  related  to  him 
within  the  degrees  hereinafter  mentioned,  then  to  the 
Bishop  next  in  seniority  not  so  related,  to  convene  a 
Board  of  Inquiry  in  the  mode  hereinafter  set  forth,  to 
investigate  such  rumors,  reports,  and  charges,  and  to  pro- 
ceed, in  all  respects,  according  to  the  provisions  of  this 
Canon,  as  if  charges  had  been  formally  made  in  either 
of  the  two  modes  first  mentioned  in  this  section. 

[J3.]  Wlienever  charges  are  formally  made  in  either  of 
the  modes  first  above  mentioned,  the  accusers  may,  if 
they  choose,  select  a  lay  communicant  of  this  Church,  of 
the  profession  of  the  law,  to  act  as  their  adviser,  advocate 
and  agent,  in  preparing  the  accusation,  proofs,  etc.,  until 
such  time  as  a  Board  of  Inquiry  is  convened  in  such 
manner  as  is  hereinafter  provided  for  ;  or  they  may  pre- 
pare such  charges  themselves,  without  regard  to  any 
particular  form  ;  and,  in  either  case,  the  grounds  of  ac- 
cusation must  be  set  forth  with  reasonable  certainty  of 
time,  place,  and  circumstance. 


By    whom  to  be 
signed. 


Action  on  Ru- 
mors. 


If  advised  by 
two  Bishops. 


Accusers  may 
choose  a  lay  Ad  lo- 
cate and  Agent. 


Reasonable 
Certainty  of 
Charges. 


C9 


QLiik  II. 


To   whom    to  be 
delivered. 


Board  of  Inquiry. 


How  Constitu- 
ted. 


Notice  to  Mem- 
bers. 


70 


Canon     9.  Siii.,iv. 


0/  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


§  III.  The  charges,  having  been  prepared  in  either  of 
the  modes  first  above  mentioned,  shall  then  be  delivered 
to  the  Presiding  Bishop  of  this  Church,  if  he  be  not  the 
accused,  nor  related  to  the  accused  in  any  degree  men- 
tioned hereinafter  in  this  Canon;  in  either  of  which 
cases,  the  charges  shall  be  delivered  to  the  next  Bishop 
in  seniority   not  so  related. 

§  IV,  A  Board  for  making  a  preliminary  inquiry  into 
charges  thus  preferred,  shall  be  constituted  as  follows, 
whenever  such  Board  shall  be  necessary,  viz.  : 

[l.j  The  Presiding  Bishop,  or  senior  Bishop,  as  the 
case  may  be,  to  whom  such  charges  are  delivered,  shall 
take  the  list  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  to  the  last 
General  Convention  that  was  held  before  such  charges 
were  presented,  and  from  that  list  shall  choose  by  lot 
two  Presbyters  and  two  laymen  from  the  deputation  of 
the  Diocese  of  the  accused,  and  two  Presbyters  and  two 
laymen  from  each  of  the  respective  deputations  of  the 
three  Dioceses  adjoining  that  of  the  accused ;  and  if 
there  be  not  three  adjoining,  of  the  three  nearest  thereto  ; 
and  if  more  than  three  Dioceses  adjoin  that  of  the  ac- 
cused, those  three  that  have  the  largest  number  of 
canonically-resident  Presbyters  in  them  shall  be  ac- 
counted adjoining,  for  the  purposes  of  this  Canon ;  and 
the  sixteen  individuals  thus  selected  by  lot  shall  consti- 
tute the  Board  of  Inquiry,  a  majority  of  whom  shall 
form  a  quorum  for  doing  business. 

[2.]  The  Presiding  Bishop,  or  next  in  seniority  as  the 
case  may  be,  immediately  after  thus  selecting  by  lot  the 
Board  of  Inquiry,  shall  give  notice  thereof  to  each  mem- 
ber of  said  Board,  and  direct  him  to  attend  at  a  time 


Canon  9 


§  1  V. 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


and  place  designated  by  him,  and  organize  the  Board  ; 
and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  member  so  to  attend. 
The  place  must  be  within  the  Diocese  of  the  accused. 
The  Presiding  Bishop  shall,  at  the  same  time,  send  a 
copy  of  the  charges  to  the  senior  Presbyter  of  those  thus 
selected  by  lot  from  the  four  Dioceses. 

[3.]  On  assembling,  the  Board  shall  organize  by  choos- 
ing from  among;  themselves  a  President  and  Secretary, 
and  shall  also  appoint  a  Church  Advocate,  who  must  be 
a  lay  communicant  of  this  Church,  and  of  the  profession 
of  the  law,  and  who  thenceforward  shall,  in  all  stages  of 
the  proceedings,  if  a  trial  be  ordered,  represent  the 
Church,  and  be  the  party  on  the  one  hand,  while  the  ac- 
cused is  the  party  on  the  other.  The  sittings  of  the 
Board  shall  be  private ;  the  Church  Advocate  shall  not 
attend  as  prosecuting  counsel,  but  shall  be  at  all  times 
at  hand  and  ia  readiness  to  give  his  advice  in  all  ques- 
tions submitted  to  him  by  the  Board. 

[4.]  In  conducting  the  investigation,  the  Board  shall 
hear  the  accusations  and  such  proof  as  the  accusers  may 
produce,  and  shall  determine  whether,  upon  matters  of 
law  and  of  fact,  as  presented  to  them,  there  is  sufficient 
ground  to  put  the  accused  Bishop  upon  his  trial  ;  and  in 
such  investigation,  as  well  as  in  all  cases  of  trial  by  an 
Ecclesiastical  Court  now  authorized,  or  hereafter  to  be 
authorized,  by  the  Constitution  or  Canons  of  the  General 
Convention,  the  laws  of  the  State  in  which  such  investi- 
gation or  trial  is  had,  so  far  as  they  relate  to  the  law  of 
evidence,  shall  be  adopted  and  taken  as  the  rules  by 
which  the  said  Board  or  Court  shall  be  governed.  If  a 
majority  of  the  Board  present  on  such  investigation, 
shall  be  of  opinion  that  there  are  sufficient  grounds  to 


Place  of  Meeting. 

Copy  of  Charges 
to  he  sent. 


Organization  of 
the  Board. 


Sittings  to  be 

private. 

Office  of  Church 

Advocate. 


Duty  of  the 
Board. 


Rides  of  Evidence 
those  of  the  State 

in  which  theTrial 
is  had. 


Presentment. 


title  II. 


Canon  9 


IV 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


Copies  of  Pre- 
sentment to  be 
sent. 


Refusal  to  Pre- 
sent. 


Certificate  of  Re- 
fusal, 


Bar  to  Future 

Presentment. 

Exception. 


Limitation  of 
Time. 


Conviction  in  a 
State  Court. 


72 


put  the  accused  Bishop  upon  his  trial,  they  shall  direct 
the  Church  Advocate  to  prepare  a  presentment,  to  be 
signed  by  such  of  the  Board  as  agree  thereto  ;  and  to 
that  end,  shall  place  in  his  hands  all  the  charges,  to- 
gether with  the  testimony  that  has  been  laid  before  the 
Board. 

[5.]  The  Board  shall  then  direct  the  Church  Advocate 
to  transmit  to  the  Bishop  from  whom  they  received  the 
charges,  the  presentment  thus  signed  ;  and  shall  cause 
him  also,  without  delay,  to  send  to  the  accused  Bishop  a 
copy  of  the  same,  certified  by  the  Church  Advocate  to  be 
correct. 

[6.]  If  a  majority  of  the  Board  present  shall  be  of 
opinion  that  there  is  not  sufficient  ground  to  put  the  ac- 
cused Bishop  upon  his  trial,  in  such  case,  the  charges, 
together  with  a  certificate  of  the  President  of  the  Board 
of  its  refusal  to  make  a  presentment,  shall  be  sent  to 
the  Secretary  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  to  be  deposited 
among  the  archives  of  that  House.  And  no  proceedings 
shall  thereafter  be  had  by  way  of  presentment  on  such 
charges,  except  upon  the  affidavit  of  a  respectable  com- 
municant of  the  Church,  of  the  discovery  of  new  testi- 
mony as  to  the  facts  charged,  and  setting  forth  what 
such  testimony  is. 

[7.]  No  presentment  shall  be  found  in  any  case,  unless 
the  alleged  offence  shall  have  been  committed  within 
five  years  next  before  the  day  on  which  the  charges 
were  delivered  to  the  Presiding  or  senior  Bishop.  But 
if  the  accused  shall  have  been  convicted  of  the  alleged 
offence  in  a  State  court,  notwithstanding  five  years  may 
have  elapsed  since  its  commission,  a  presentment  may 
be  founded  on  charges   delivered  to  the  Presiding   or 


Canon     9 


§^ 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 

senior  Bishop  at   any  time  within   one  year  after  such 
conviction. 

^  V.  [1.]  When  a  presentment  has  been  made  by  the 
Board  of  Inquiry,  or  a  majority  thereof,  to  the  Bishop 
from  whom  they  received  the  charges,  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  such  Bishop  forthwith  to  give  to  the  accused 
written  notice  to  attend,  at  some  place  not  more  than 
one  hundred  miles  from  the  place  of  residence  of  the 
accused  Bishop,  and  at  some  time  not  less  than  twenty 
days  after  the  time  of  serving  such  notice,  either  per- 
sonally, or  by  some  agent  authorized  by  him  in  writing 
to  act  for  him  in  the  premises,  for  the  purpose  of  select- 
ing the  Bishops  who  shall  form  the  Court  for  the  trial  of 
the  said  accused  Bishop  upon  the  said  presentment. 
He  shall  also  give  notice  to  the  Church  Advocate  of  the 
time  and  place  appointed  for  such  selection. 

[2.]  At  the  time  and  place  appointed  in  the  notices,  the 
Bishop  who  has  given  the  notices  shall  attend ;  and,  in 
the  presence  of  the  accused  Bishop,  or  of  his  agent 
authorized  as  aforesaid,  and  also  in  the  presence  of  the 
Church  Advocate,  or  of  such  person  or  persons  as  may 
attend  in  his  behalf,  or,  if  no  person  shall  attend  on 
behalf  of  one  or  both,  of  two  Presbyters  named  by  him- 
self, the  said  Bishop  shall  cause  to  be  placed  in  a  vessel 
the  names  of  all  the  Bishops  of  this  Church  entitled  to 
seats  in  the  House  of  Bishops,  then  being  within  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  United  States,  except  the  accused  and 
those  Bishops  who  may  be  related  to  him  either  by  con- 
sanguinity or  affinity,  in  the  direct  ascending  or  de- 
scending line,  or  as  brother,  uncle,  or  nephew.  He  shall 
then  cause  eleven  of  the  said  names  to  be  drawn.     The 


Notice  to  Accused 
upon  Present- 
ment. 


And  to  Church 
Advocate. 


Formation  of 
the  Court. 


Eleven  Names 
to  be  draicn. 

73 


title  II. 


Canon   9 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


Eleven 
reduced  to 
Seven. 


Notice  to   Mem- 
bers of  the  Court. 


Appointment  of 
Time  and  Place. 


Certified  copies. 


Summons  of 
the  Accused. 


74 


names  so  drawn,  shall  Ije  entered  upon  a  list  as  they  are 
drawn,  and  the  accused  or  his  agent  may  strike  off  the 
list  one  name,  and  the  said  Church  Advocate  or  his  agent 
another  name,  and  so  on  alternately,  until  the  number 
be  reduced  to  seven.  If  it  shall  happen  that  either  party 
shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  strike,  then  the  Bishop  who 
has  given  the  notices  shall  reduce  the  number  to  seven, 
by  striking  off  so  many  of  the  last  drawn  names  as  will 
reduce  the  list  to  that  number.  The  seven  Bishops 
whose  names  remain,  or  a  majority  of  them,  when 
assembled,  shall  constitute  the  Court  for  the  trial  of  the 
accused  upon  the  presentment. 

[3.]  The  Court  having  been  thus  constituted,  the  Bish- 
op to  whom  the  presentment  was  made  shall  immedi- 
ately communicate  to  each  Bishop  who  has  thus  been 
by  lot  designated  as  one  of  the  triers,  the  fact  that  he  is 
a  member  of  the  Court.  He  shall  also  appoint  a  time 
and  place  for  the  assembling  of  the  Court.  The  time 
shall  not  be  less  than  two  nor  more  than  six  calendar 
months  from  the  day  on  which  the  notice  should  arrive 
at  the  most  distant  Diocese,  in  the  ordinary  course  of 
the  public  mail.  The  place  shall  be  within  the  Diocese 
or  Missionary  field  of  the  accused  Bishop,  unless  where 
the  same  may  be  of  such  difficult  access,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Presiding  or  senior  Bishop,  that  reasonable 
convenience  may  require  the  appointment  of  another 
location.  And  the  said  senior  Bishop  shall  cause  the 
Church  Advocate  to  send  certified  copies  of  the  said 
presentment  to  all  the  Bishops  who  constitute  the  Court. 

[4.]  The  Bishop  to  whom  the  presentment  has  been 
made  shall  also  immediately  communicate  to  the  accused 
the  names  of  the  members  of  the  Court,  and  inform  him 


Canon    9  . 


VI 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop 


of  the  time  and  place  appointed  for  its  meeting,  and  sum- 
mon him  then  and  there  to  appear  and  answer.  He  or 
any  other  Bishop  of  this  Church  having  charge  of  a  Dio- 
cese, shall  have  power,  until  the  Court  assembles,  upon 
the  application  of  either  the  Church  Advocate  or  the  ac- 
cused, to  issue  a  summons  for  witnesses. 

^  VI.  The  Bishops  who  constitute  the  Court,  or  a  ma- 
jority of  them,  having  assembled  according  to  the  notice 
given  them,  which  notice  it  is  hereby  made  their  duty 
to  obey,  shall  proceed  as  follows,  viz. : 

[1.]  They  shall  elect  a  President  out  of  their  own  num- 
ber, and  appoint  a  Presbyter  of  the  Church  as  Clerk,  and 
if  necessary,  another  Presbyter  as  Assistant  Clerk  ;  and 
when  thus  organized,  the  President  shall  direct  the  Clerk 
to  call  the  names  of  the  Church  Advocate  and  the  ac- 
cused ;  and  if  both  appear,  he  shall  then  cause  the  Clerk 
to  read  the  presentment  which  was  delivered  to  the  Pre- 
siding or  senior  Bishop,  whose  duty  it  is  hereby  made  to 
deliver  the  same  to  the  Court  upon  its  organization, 

[2.]  The  accused  shall  then  be  called  upon  by  the 
Court  to  say  whether  he  is  guilty  or  not  guilty  of  the 
offence  or  offences  charged  against  him,  and  his  plea 
shall  be  duly  recorded ;  and  on  his  neglect  or  refusal  to 
plead,  the  plea  of  not  guilty  shall  be  entered  for  him, 
and  the  trial  shall  proceed ;  Provided,  that,  for  sufficient 
cause,  the  Court  may  adjourn  from  time  to  time ;  and 
Provided  also,  that  the  accused  shall,  at  all  times  during 
the  trial,  have  liberty  to  be  present,  and  in  due  time  and 
order  produce  his  testimony,  and  to  make  his  defence. 

[3.]  If  the  accused  neglect  or  refuse  to  appear  in  per- 
son, according  to  the  notice   served  on  him  as  aforesaid, 


Power   to   sum- 
mon Witnesses. 


Course  of  Pro- 
ceeding on  the 
Trial. 


President. 
Clerk. 


Reading  the 
Presentment. 


The  Call  to 
plead. 


Provisos. 


Non-appearance. 
75 


title  11. 


Canon     9. 


V  I 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  BishojJ. 


Contumacy. 


Three  Months^ 
Grace  to  appear. 


The  Common. 
Law,  the  Rule 
of  Proceeding. 


Declaration     of 
Witness  in  Writ- 
ing before  testi- 
fying. 


except  for  some  reasonable  cause  to  be  allowed  by  the 
Court,  they  shall  proceed  to  pronounce  him  in  contu- 
macy, and  notify  him  that  sentence  of  suspension  or 
degradation  will  be  pronounced  against  him  by  the 
Court  at  the  expiration  of  three  months,  unless  within 
that  time  he  tender  himself  ready,  and  accordingly  ap- 
pear and  take  his  trial  on  the  presentment.  But  if  the 
accused  shall  not  lender  himself  before  the  expiration  of 
the  said  three  months,  sentence  of  suspension  or  degra- 
dation from  the  Ministry  may  be  pronounced  against  him 
by  the  Court. 

[4.]  The  accused  being  present,  and  the  trial  proceed- 
ing, it  shall  be  conducted  according  to  the  principles  of 
the  Common  Law,  as  the  same  are  generally  administered 
ill  the  United  States ;  nor  shall  any  testimony  be  receiv- 
ed at  the  trial,  except  from  witnesses  who  have  signed  a 
declaration  in  the  following  words,  to  be  read  aloud 
before  the  witness  testifies,  and  to  be  filed  with  the  rec- 
ords of  the  Court : 

"  A.  B.,  a  witness  summoned  to  testify  on  the  trial  of  a  presentment 

against  the  Right  Rev. ,  a,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 

Church  in  the  United  States,  new  pending,  do  most  solemnly  call  God  to 
witness  that  the  evidence  I  am  about  to  give  shall  be  the  truth,  the 
whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth  ;  so  help  me  God  !" 


Depositions 
when    Attend- 
ance cannot  be 
procured. 

76 


And  if  it  be  necessary  to  take  the  testimony  of  an  ab- 
sent witness  on  a  commission,  such  testimony  shall  be 
preceded  by  a  similar  written  declaration  of  the  witness, 
which  shall  be  filed  and  transmitted  with  his  or  her  de- 
position to  the  Court.  The  testimony  of  each  witness 
shall  be  reduced  to  writing.  And  in  case  there  is  ground 
to  suppose  that  the  attendance  of  any  witness  on  the  trial 
cannot  be  obtained,  it  shall  be  lawful  for  either  party  to 


Canon     9 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


apply  to  the  Court  if  in  session,  or  if  not,  to  any  mem- 
ber thereof,  who  shall  thereupon  appoint  a  commissary 
to  take  the  deposition  of  such  witness  ;  and  such  party 
so  desiring  to  take  the  deposition,  shall  give  to  the  other 
party  reasonable  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  taking 
such  deposition,  accompanying  such  notice  with  the  in- 
terrogatories to  be  propounded  to  the  witness  ;  where- 
upon it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  other  party,  within  six 
days  after  such  notice,  to  propound  cross-interrogatories ; 
and  such  interrogatories  and  cross-interrogatories,  if  any 
be  propounded,  shall  be  sent  to  the  commissary,  who 
shall  thereupon  proceed  to  take  the  testimony  of  such 
witness,  upon  oath  or  affirmation,  and  transmit  it  under 
seal  to  the  Court.  But  no  deposition  shall  be  read  at 
the  trial,  unless  the  Court  have  reasonable  assurance 
that  the  attendance  of  the  witness  cannot  be  procured, 
or  unless  both  parties  shall  consent  that  it  may  be  read. 
Provided,  that  in  any  Diocese  in  which  the  civil  gov- 
ernment has  authorized  the  ecclesiastical  courts  therein 
to  issue  summons  for  witnesses,  or  to  administer  an  oath, 
the  Court  shall  act  in  conformity  to  such  laws. 

[5.]  All  notices  and  papers  may  be  served  by  a  sum- 
moner  or  summoners,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Court  when 
the  same  is  in  session,  or  by  a  member  thereof ;  and  the 
certificate  of  any  such  suramoner  shall  be  evidence  of 
the  due  service  of  a  notice  or  paper.  In  case  of  service 
by  any  other  person,  the  fact  may  be  proved  by  the  affi- 
davit of  such  person.  The  delivery  of  a  written  notice 
or  paper  to  the  accused  party,  or  to  the  Church  Advocate, 
or  leaving  it,  or  a  copy  thereof,  at  the  residence,  or  last 
known  residence,  of  either,  shall  be  deemed  sufficient 
service  of  such  notice  or  paper,  on  the  Church  Advocate 


§   VI 


Commissary. 


Cross-examina- 
tion. 


On  what  Condi- 
tion Depositions 
to  he  read. 


Proviso. 


Service  of  No- 
tices and  Papers 


Certificate  of 
Service. 


Mode  of  Service 


77 


title  II. 


Canon    9. 


VI 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


Accused  may 
have  Counsel. 


Counsel  to  he 
Communicants. 

Court  to  express 
Opinion  on  each- 
Charge   and 
Specification. 


Decision  to  be  re- 
duced to  Writing 
and  signed. 


78 


and  accused  respectively.  If  the  person  to  be  served 
with  any  notice  or  paper  shall  have  left  the  United 
States,  it  shall  be  a  sufficient  service  thereof  to  leave  a 
copy  of  such  notice  or  paper  at  his  last  place  of  abode 
within  the  United  States,  sixty  days  before  the  day  on 
which  the  appearance,  or  other  act  required  by  the  said 
notice  or  paper,  is  to  be  performed. 

[6.]  The  accused  party  may,  if  he  think  proper,  have 
the  aid  of  counsel ;  and  if  he  should  choose  to  have  more 
than  one  counsel,  the  Church  Advocate  may  have  assist- 
ant advocates,  to  be  named  by  the  accusers  ;  but  in  every 
case  the  Court  may  regulate  the  number  of  counsel  who 
shall  address  the  Court  or  examine  witnesses.  The  Church 
Advocate  shall  be  considered  the  party  on  one  side,  and 
the  accused  on  the  other.  All  counsel  must  be  commu- 
nicants of  the  Church. 

[7.]  The  Court,  having  fully  heard  the  allegations  and 
proofs  of  the  parties,  and  deliberately  considered  the 
same,  after  the  parties  have  withdrawn,  shall  declare 
respectively,  whether,  in  their  opinion,  the  accused  is 
guilty  or  not  guilty  of  each  particular  charge  and  speci- 
fication contained  in  the  presentment,  in  the  order  in 
which  they  are  set  forth ;  and  the  accused  shall  be  con- 
sidered as  not  guilty  of  every  charge  and  specification 
of  which  he  shall  not  be  pronounced  guilty  by  a  majority 
of  the  members  of  the  Court. 

[8.]  The  decision  of  the  Court  as  to  all  the  charges 
and  specifications  of  which  a  majority  of  the  members 
of  the  Court  have  found  him  guilty,  shall  be  reduced  to 
writing,  and  signed  by  those  who  assent  to  it ;  and  a  de- 
cision pronouncing  him  not  guilty  of  all  those  charges 
and  specifications  of  which  a  majority  shall  not  have 


Canon     9 . 


VI. 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


pronounced  him  guilty,  shall  also  be  drawn  up,  and 
signed  by  those  who  assent  to  it ;  and  the  decision  thus 
signed  shall  be  regarded  as  the  judgment  of  the  Court, 
and  shall  be  pronounced  in  the  presence  of  the  parties, 
if  they  shall  think  proper  to  attend. 

[9.]  If  the  accused  shall  be  found  guilty  of  any  charge 
or  specification,  the  Court  shall  proceed  to  ask  him 
whether  he  has  anything  to  say  before  the  sentence  is 
passed,  and  may,  in  their  discretion,  give  him  time  to 
prepare  what  he  wishes  to  say,  and  appoint  a  time  for 
passing  the  sentence ;  and  before  passing  sentence,  the 
Court  may  adjourn  from  time  to  time,  and  give  the  ac- 
cused reasonable  opportunity  of  showing  cause  to  induce 
a  belief  that  justice  has  not  been  done,  or  that  he  has 
discovered  new  testimony  ;  and  the  Court,  or  a  majority 
of  its  members,  may,  according  to  a  sound  discretion, 
grant  him  a  new  trial  ;  but,  in  such  new  trial,  no  Bishop 
shall  sit  who  has  already  been  a  trier.  Before  passing 
sentence,  the  accused  shall  always  have  the  opportunity 
of  being  heard,  if  he  have  aught  to  say  in  excuse  or 
palliation. 

[10,]  The  accused  having  been  heard,  or  not  desiring 
to  be  heard,  the  sentence  of  the  Court  shall  then  be  pro- 
nounced, and  shall  be  either  admonition,  suspension  as 
defined  by  the  existing  Canons  of  this  Church,  or  degra- 
dation, as  the  offence  or  offences  adjudged  to  be  proved 
shall  seem  to  deserve.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Court, 
.whenever  sentence  has  been  pronounced,  whether  it  be 
upon  a  trial,  or  for  contumacy,  to  communicate  such 
sentence  to  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  every  Diocese 
of  this  Church  ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  au- 


Accused  to  he 
heard  before 
Sentence. 


New  Trial. 


Sentence. 


Sentence  to  be 
communicated, 
and  to  whom. 


79 


title  II 


Canon    9 . 


§  VI. 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop). 


Record  of  Pro- 
ceedings. 


Exceptions. 


How  kept  and 
attested. 


Lay   Advisers 
may  he  appointed. 


Their  Office. 


thority  to  cause  such  sentence  to  be  made  known  to 
every  clergyman  under  his  jurisdiction. 

[11.]  Every  Court  shall  keep  a  full  record  of  its  pro- 
ceedings, including  the  whole  evidence  given  before  it. 
Should  any  Court  refuse  to  insert  in  its  record  a  state- 
ment of  any  testimony  which  has  been  received,  or  of 
any  decision  which  the  Court  has  made,  or  of  any  fact 
which  has  occurred  in  Court,  or  any  paper  which  either 
party  has  produced,  it  shall  be  the  right  of  either  party 
to  file  an  exception  in  writing,  containing  a  statement 
of  such  evidence,  decision  or  fact,  or  referring  to  or  de- 
scribing such  paper,  which  paper  shall  also  be  filed  with 
the  exception.  All  exceptions  and  papers  so  filed  shall 
become  parts  of  the  record. 

[12.]  Such  records  shall  be  kept  by  the  Clerk,  and  in- 
serted in  a  book,  to  be  attested  by  the  signatures  of  the 
President  and  Clerk.  Every  such  book,  and  all  papers 
connected  with  any  trial,  shall  be  deposited  with  the 
Registrar  of  the  G-eneral  Convention.  Such  books  and 
papers  shall  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  every  member 
of  this  Church. 

[13.]  Every  Court,  constituted  under  the  authority  of 
this  Canon,  may  be  attended  by  one  or  more  lay  advi- 
sers, who  shall  be  communicants  of  this  Church,  and 
of  the  profession  of  the  law.  Such  advisers  may  be 
present  at  all  the  proceedings  of  the  Court,  but  they 
shall  have  no  vote  in  any  case  whatever;  it  shall  be 
their  duty  to  give  in  person  to  the  Court  an  opinion  on 
any  question  not  theological,  upon  which  the  Court,  or 
any  member  thereof,  or  either  party,  shall  desire  an 
opinion.  If  a  dispute  shall  arise  whether  any  question 
be  or  be  not  theological,  it  shall  be  decided  by  the  Court 


80 


Canon    9 


§  VI  I  .,    VIII 


Of  the  Trial  of  a  Bishop. 


by  a  majority  of  votes.  The  Court  may  always,  by 
unanimous  consent,  appoint  an  adviser  or  advisers.  If 
they  are  not  unanimous,  each  member  of  the  Court  may 
name  a  candidate  ;  if  not  more  than  three  are  named, 
they  all  shall  be  advisers  ;  if  more  than  three  are  named, 
the  Court  shall  reduce  them  to  three  by  lot. 

^  VII.  [1.]  Any  Bishop  of  this  Church  may  be  pre- 
sented for  holding  and  teaching  doctrine  inconsistent 
with  that  of  this  Church,  by  any  Bishop  in  communion 
with  this  Church,  and  not  under  suspension  or  degrada- 
tion. No  Bishop  shall  be  presented  in  any  other  mode 
for  this  offence  ;  and  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  two  or 
more  persons  to  unite  in  any  such  presentment.  The 
Bishop  making  such  presentment  shall  appoint  a  Church 
Advocate. 

[2.]  Every  presentment  for  alleged  erroneous  doc- 
trine shall  be  signed  by  the  person  making  it,  and  shall 
be  addressed  to  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  in  the  United  States,  and  delivered  to  the  senior 
Bishop  entitled  to  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Bishops,  and 
not  being  the  accused  or  the  accuser,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  convene  a  Court  for  the  trial  of  the  accused.  The 
Court  shall  be  composed  of  all  the  Bishops  entitled  to 
seats  in  the  House  of  Bishops,  except  the  accuser  and 
the  accused.  Three  fourths  of  such  Bishops  shall  con- 
stitute a  quorum  ;  but  the  consent  of  two  thirds  of  all 
the  Bishops  entitled  to  seats  in  the  House  of  Bishops 
shall  be  necessary  to  a  conviction. 

^  Vin.  [1.]  If  charges  be  preferred  against  a  Mis- 
sionary Bishop  who  is  not  a  Diocesan,  such  Missionary 


Presentment  Jor 
erroneoui  Doc- 
trine. 

By  whom  to  he 
made. 


Church  Advo- 
cate. 


To  whom  ad- 
dressed and  de- 
livered. 

Court  to  he  con- 
vened. 

Of  whom  com- 
posed. 

Quorum. 
Number  necessa-\ 
ry  to  a   Convic-\ 
tion.  I 

Case  of  Charges 
against  a  Mis- 
sionary Bishop. 

81 


title  II. 


Canon    10. 


I.,  II 


Of  Sentences. 


Case  of  a  Bishop 
ivithout  Juris- 
diction. 


Bishop  shall  be  required  by  the  Presiding  or  senior 
Bishop  to  name  some  one  of  the  three  Dioceses  nearest 
to  his  District  or  Missionary  field;  and  such  selection 
having  been  made,  the  proceedings  shall  then  be  pre- 
cisely such  as  under  this  Canon  they  would  be  were  he 
the  Diocesan  of  the  Diocese  named  by  him.  Should  the 
Missionary  Bishop  refuse  to  name  a  Diocese,  then  the 
Presiding  Bishop  may  name  any  one  of  the  three  above 
designated,  and  the  effect  shall  be  the  same  as  if  the 
nomination  had  been  made  by  the  accused  Missionary 
Bishop. 

[2.]  If  charges  be  preferred  against  a  Bishop  having 
no  jurisdiction,  he  shall  be  proceeded  against  precisely 
as  if  he  w6re  the  Diocesan  of  the  Diocese  in  which  he 
has  his  civil  residence." 


Canon  10. 

Of  Sentences.^ 

Suspension.  §  I.  Whenever  the  penalty  of  suspension  shall  be  in- 

flicted on  a  Bishop,  Priest,  or  Deacon  in  this  Church, 
the  sentence  shall  specify  on  what  terms,  or  at  what 
time,  said  penalty  shall  cease." 

Degradation.  ^  H.  [1.]  "When  any  Minister  is   degraded  from   the 

Holy  Ministry,  he  is  degraded  therefrom  entirely,  and 

What  Terms  are    not  from  a  higher  to  a  lower  Order  of  the  same,     Deposi- 

synonymous.         tion,  displacing,  and  all  like  expressions,  are  the  same  as 


82 


Canon  xi.,  1856.  ''  See  the  Constitution,  Article  VI. 

•■  Canon  iii.,  1847. 


Canon     11. 


Remission  or  Modificatiori  of  Judicial  Sentences. 


degradation.     No  degraded  Minister  shall  be  restored  to 
the  Ministry, 

[2.]  Whenever  a  Clergyman  shall  be  degraded,  the 
Bishop  who  pronounces  sentence  shall,  without  delay, 
give  notice  thereof  to  every  Minister  and  Vestry  in  the 
Diocese,  and  also  to  all  the  Bishops  of  this  Church,  and 
where  there  is  no  Bishop,  to  the  Standing  Committee." 


Canon  11. 

Of  the  Remission  or  Modification  of  Judicial    Sen- 
tences. 

The  Bishops  of  this  Church,  who  are  entitled  to  seats 
in  the  House  of  Bishops,  may  altogether  remit  and  ter- 
minate any  judicial  sentence  which  may  have  been  im- 
posed, or  may  hereafter  be  imposed,  by  Bishops  acting 
collectively  as  a  judicial  tribunal ;  or  modify  the  same 
so  far  as  to  designate  a  precise  period  of  time,  or  other 
specific  contingency,  on  the  occurrence  of  which  such 
sentence  shall  utterly  cease,  and  be  of  no  further  force 
or  effect.  Provided  that  no  such  remission  or  modifica- 
tion shall  be  made  except  at  a  meeting  of  the  House  of 
Bishops,  during  the  session  of  some  General  Convention, 
or  at  a  special  meeting  of  the  said  Bishops,  which  shall 
be  convened  by  the  Presiding  Bishop  on  the  application  of 
any  five  Bishops;  three  months'  notice,  in  writing,  of  the 
time,  place  and  object  of  .the  meeting,  being  given  per- 

%  »  Canon  xxxix.,  1832. 


No  Resloratio7i. 

Notice  of  Degra- 
dation, to  whom 
given. 


Remission  of 
Sentence, 


Or  Modification 
thereof. 


To  be  made  at 
General    Con- 
vention. 
Or  Meeting 
specially    con- 
vened. 


83 


title  II. 


Canon     12 


I.,  II 


Regulations  respecting  the  Laity. 


Majority  of  whole 
Number  of  Bish- 
ops must  assent. 


sonally  to  each  Bishop,  or  left  at  his  usual  place  of  abode. 
Provided,  also,  that  such  remission  or  modification  be 
assented  to  by  a  number  of  said  Bishops  not  less  than 
a  majority  of  the  whole  number  entitled  at  the  time  to 
seats  in  the  House  of  Bishops  ;  and  Provided,  that  noth- 
ing herein  shall  be  construed  to  repeal  or  alter  Canon 
10  of  this  Title." 


Removal  of  Com- 
municants. 


Certificate. 


Crimes  and 
Scandals  to  be 
censured. 


Ordinary  to  be 
informed. 


Canon    12. 

Regulations  respecting  the  Laity. 

k  I.  A  communicant  removing  from  one  parish  to 
another,  shall  procure  from  the  Rector  (if  any)  of  the 
Parish  of  his  last  residence,  or,  if  there  be  no  Rector, 
from  one  of  the  Wardens,  a  certificate  stating  that  he 
or  she  is  a  communicant  in  good  standing ;  and  the 
Rector  of  the  Parish  or  Congregation  to  which  he  or  she 
removes  shall  not  be  required  to  receive  him  or  her  as 
a  communicant  until  such  letter  be  produced." 

k  II.  [1.]  If  any  persons  within  this  Church  offend 
their  brethren  by  any  wickedness  of  life,  such  persons 
shall  be  repelled  from  the  Holy  Communion,  agreeably 
to  the  rubric. 

[2.]  There  being  the  provision  in  the  second  rubric 
before  the  Communion  Service  requiring  that  every  Min- 
ister repelling  from  the  Communion  shall  give  an  account 
of  the  same  to  the  Ordinary,  "it  is  hereby  provided,  that. 


^  Canon  ii.,  1847. 


>>  Canon  xiii.,  1853. 


84 


Canon     12. 


Regulations  respecting  the  Laity. 


on  the  information  to  the  effect  stated  being  laid  before 
the  Ordinary,  that  is  the  Bishop,  it  shall  not  be  his  duty 
to  institute  an  inquiry,  unless  there  be  a  complaint  made 
to  him  in  writing  by  the  repelled  party.  But,  on  receiv- 
ing complaint,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Bishop,  unless 
he  think  fit  to  restore  him  from  the  insufficiency  of  the 
cause  assigned  by  the  Minister,  to  institute  an  inquiry 
as  may  be  directed  by  the  Canons  of  the  Diocese  in 
which  the  event  has  taken  place ;  and  the  notice,  given 
as  above  by  the  Minister,  shall  be  a  sufficient  presenta- 
tion of  the  party  repelled. 

[3.]  In  case  of  great  heinousness  of  offence  on  the 
part  of  members  of  this  Church,  they  may  be  proceeded 
against  to  the  depriving  them  of  all  privileges  of  Church 
membership,  according  to  such  rules  or  process  as  may 
be  provided  by  the  General  Convention  ;  and  until  such 
rules  or  process  shall  be  provided,  by  such  as  may  be 
provided  by  the  different  Diocesan  Conventions." 


Inquiry  on  Com- 
plaint in  Writ- 
ing. 


Deprivation  of 
Privileges  of 
Church  Member- 
ship. 


*  Canon  xKi.,  1832. 


85 


title  III. 


Canon    1 


Special  Meetings 
of  General  Con- 
vention. 


Proviso. 

Place  of  Meet- 
ins. 


Same  Deputies. 


86 


%xXk  III. 


OF  THE  ORGANIZED  BODIES  AND  OFFICERS  OF  THE 
CHURCH. 


Canon  1. 

Of  the  General  Convention." 

§  I.  [1.]  The  right  of  calling  special  meetings  of  the 
General  Convention  shall  be  in  the  Bishops.  This  right 
shall  be  exercised  by  the  Presiding  Bishop,  or,  in  case 
of  his  death,  by  the  Bishop  who,  according  to  the  rules 
of  the  House  of  Bishops,  is  to  preside  at  the  next  G-eneral 
Convention ;  Provided,  that  the  summons  shall  be  with 
the  consent,  or  on  the  requisition  of,  a  majority  of  the 
Bishops,  expressed  to  him  in  writing. 

[2.]  The  place  of  holding  any  Special  Convention 
shall  be  that  fixed  on  by  the  preceding  General  Con- 
vention for  the  meeting  of  the  G-eneral  Convention, 
unless  circumstances  shall  render  a  meeting  at  such  a 
place  unsafe  ;  in  which  case,  the  Presiding  Bishop  may 
appoint  some  other  place. 

[3.]  The  Deputies  elected  to  the  preceding  General 
Convention  shall  be  the  Deputies  at  such  special  Con- 
vention, unless  in  those  cases  in  which  other  Deputies 
shall  have  been  chosen  in  the  mean  time  by  any  of 
the  Diocesan  Conventions,  and  then  such  other  Deputies 
shall  represent  in  the  Special  Convention  the  Church  of 
the  Diocese  in  w^hich  they  have  been  chosen.* 


»  See  Constitution,  Articles  I ,  II.,  and  III. 


b  Canon  xlix.,  1832. 


Canon    1 


II. 


Of  the  General  Convention. 


Duties  of  Regis- 
trar. 


^  11,  [1.]  The  journals,  files,  papers,  reports,  and  other  Resistrai. 
documents,  which,  under  Canon  15  of  Title  I.,  entitled 
Of  Securing'  an  Accurate  View  of  the  State  of  the 
Church,  or  in  any  other  manner,  shall  become  the  pro- 
perty of  either  House  of  the  Greneral  Convention  of  this 
Church,  shall  be  committed  to  the  keeping  of  a  Presby- 
ter to  be  elected  by  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay 
Deputies,  upon  nomination  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  who 
shall  be  known  as  the  Registrar  of  the  General  Conven- 
tion. 

[2.]  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  Registrar  to  pro- 
cure all  such  journals,  files,  papers,  reports,  and  other 
documents  now  in  existence ;  to  arrange,  label,  file, 
index,  and  otherwise  put  in  order,  and  provide  for  the 
safe  keeping  of,  the  same,  and  all  such  others  as  may 
hereafter  come  into  his  possession,  in  fire-proof  box  or 
boxes,  in  some  safe  and  accessible  place  of  deposit,  and 
to  hold  the  same  under  such  regulations  and  restrictions 
as  the  G-eneral  Convention  may  from  time  to  time  pro- 
vide. 

[3.j  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  Registrar  to  pro-      Record  of  Conse- 
cure  a  proper  and  sufficient  book  of  record,  and  to  enter      crations  of  Bish- 
therein  a  record  of  the  consecrations  of  all  the  Bishops      ^P- 
of  this  Church,  designating    accurately  the  time    and 
place  of  the  same,  with  the  names  of  the  consecrating 
Bishops,  and  of  others  present  and  assisting  ;    to  have 
the  same  authenticated  in  the  fullest  manner  now  prac- 
ticable ;  and  to  take  care  for  the  similar  record  and  au- 
thentication of  all  future  consecrations  in  this  Church. 

[4.]  The  expenses  necessary  for  the  purposes  contem-      Expenses. 
plated  by  this  Section  shall  be  provided  for  by  vote  of 

87 


title  III. 


Canon  1 


I  I  I  .-V 


Notice  to  Dioce- 
san Conventions. 


Treasurer. 


His  Duties. 


How  Vacancy  to 
be  filled. 


Expenses  of 
General  Conven- 
tion. 


88 


Of  the  General  Convention. 


the  Greneral  Convention,  and  defrayed  by  the  Treasurer 
of  the  same.'' 

§  III.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies,  whenever  any 
alteration  of  the  Constitution  is  proposed,  or  any  other 
subject  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  several 
Diocesan  Conventions,  to  give  a  particular  notice  thereof 
to  the  ecclesiastical  authority  of  this  Church  in  every 
Diocese.*" 

§  IV.  At  every  triennial  meeting  of  the  General  Con- 
vention, a  Treasurer  shall  be  chosen,  who  shall  remain  in 
office  until  the  next  stated  Convention,  and  until  a  suc- 
cessor be  appointed.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  receive  and 
disburse  all  moneys  collected  under  the  authority  of  the 
Convention,  and  of  which  the  collection  and  disburse- 
ment shall  not  otherwise  be  regulated  ;  and  to  invest, 
from  time  to  time,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Convention,  such 
surplus  funds  as  he  may  have  on  hand.  His  account 
shall  be  rendered  triennially  to  the  Convention,  and  shall 
be  examined  by  a  Committee  acting  under  its  authority. 
In  case  of  a  vacancy  in  the  office  of  Treasurer,  it  shall 
be  supplied  by  an  appointment  to  be  made  by  the 
ecclesiastical  authority  of  the  Diocese  to  which  he  be- 
longed ;  and  the  person  so  appointed  shall  continue  to 
act  until  an  appointment  be  made  by  the  Convention. 

§  V.  In  order  that  the  contingent  expenses  of  the 
General   Convention    may  be  defrayed,  it  shall  be  the 


Canon  iv.,  1853. 


^  Canon  1.,  1832. 


<^  Canon  i.,  1841. 


Canon     2 


Standing  Committees. 


duty  of  the  several  Diocesan  Conventions  to  forward  to 
the  Treasurer  of  the  General  Convention,  at  or  before 
any  meeting  of  the  General  Convention,  two  dollars  for 
each  clergyman  within  such  Diocese.* 


Canon  2. 

Of  Standing  Committees. 

k  I.  In  every  Diocese  there  shall  be  a  Standing  Com- 
mittee, to  be  appointed  by  the  Convention  thereof,  whose 
duties,  except  so  far  as  provided  for  by  the  Canons  of 
the  General  Convention,  may  be  prescribed  by  the 
Canons  of  the  respective  Dioceses.  They  shall  elect 
from  their  own  body  a  President  and  a  Secretary.  They 
may  meet  on  their  own  adjournment  from  time  to  time  ; 
and  the  President  shall  have  power  to  summon  special 
meetings  whenever  he  shall  deem  it  necessary. 

h  II.  In  every  Diocese  where  there  is  a  Bishop,  the 
Standing  Committee  shall  be  a  Council  of  Advice  to  the 
Bishop.  They  shall  be  summoned  on  the  ref^uisition  of 
the  Bishop,  whenever  he  shall  wish  for  their  advice. 
And  they  may  meet  of  their  own  accord,  and  agreeably 
to  their  own  rules,  when  they  may  be  disposed  to  advise 
the  Bishop. 

k  III.  When  there  is  no  Bishop,  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee is  the  ecclesiastical  authority  for  all  purposes 
declared  in  these  Canons.'' 


»  Canon  viii.,  1856. 


b  Canon  iv.,  1832. 


Diocesan  Ratio. 


Duties  of  Stand- 
ing Committee. 


President  and 
Secretary. 


To  he  a  Council 
of  Advice. 


When  the  Eccle- 
siastical Au- 
thority. 


89 


title  III. 


Canon    3 . 


I  .- 1  u 


Trustees  how 
appointed  and 
what  number. 


Their  Duties. 


Objects  of  the 
Fund. 


Discretion  al- 
lowed as  Con- 
tributors. 


90 


Trustees  of  the  Missionary  Bishops'  Fund. 


Canon  3. 

Of  the  Trustees  of  the  Missionary  Bishops'  Fund. 

§  I.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Greneral  Convention, 
at  each  triennial  session,  on  the  nomination  of  the 
Standing  Committee  on  the  State  of  the  Church,  to  ap- 
point five  laymen  of  this  Church  to  constitute  a  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Missionary  Bishops'  Fund. 

k  II.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  Trustees  to  take 
charge  of  all  contributions  of  money  or  real  estate  which 
may  be  made  to  them,  and  accompanied  by  designation 
from  the  donors  thereof,  for  any  or  either  of  the  purposes 
herein  specified,  viz.  : — 

[1.]  For  the  present  support  of  any  Missionary  Bishop 
of  this  Church. 

[2.]  For  investment,  the  interest  or  proceeds  to  be  ap- 
plied to  such  present  support. 

[3.]  For  the  support  of  Bishops  of  this  Church  in  new 
Dioceses,  or  in  regions  in  which  the  Church  is  not  yet 
organized. 

[4.]  For  the  endowment  of  the  Episcopate  in  new 
Dioceses,  or  in  regions  in  which  the  Church  is  not  or- 
ganized. 

^  III.  All  contributions,  the  disposition  of  which  may 
not  have  been  designated  by  the  donors,  shall  be  applied 
by  the  said  Board  of  Trustees  according  to  their  discre- 
tion, for  the  above-named  objects,  until  the  direction  of 
the  General  Convention  in  the  premises. 


Trustees  of  the  Missionary  Bishops^  Fund. 


^  IV.  All  moneys  received  by  either  of  the  Missionary 
Committees  of  the  Board  of  Missions  specifically  for 
either  of  the  purposes  designated  in  this  Canon,  shall  be 
paid  over  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Trustees 
hereby  constituted,  accompanied  by  a  statement  of  the 
directions  of  the  donors. 

§  V.  The  Board  of  Trustees,  hereby  constituted,  shall 
appoint  a  Treasurer,  who  shall  keep  fair  accounts  of  all 
the  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  Board.  These  ac- 
counts shall  at  all  times  be  open  to  the  inspection  of  any 
Bishop  of  this  Church,  or  of  any  accountant  appointed 
for  the  purpose  by  any  three  Bishops  of  this  Church. 
The  Board  shall  have  power  to  make  all  necessary  dis- 
bursements in  the  discharge  of  their  trust. 

§  YI.  The  Board  shall  make  a  triennial  report  to  the 
House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies  on  the  third  day  of 
the  session  of  the  General  Convention  ;  and  shall  ac- 
company their  report  with  an  account  of  their  receipts 
and  disbursements  during  the  last  three  years.  It  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  House  to  refer  such  account  to  a  com- 
mittee to  be  audited. 

^  VII.  Such  Trustees  are  hereby  empowered  to  pro- 
cure an  act  of  incorporation  for  the  purposes  and  objects 
specified  in  this  Canon.* 

»  Canon  ii.,  1853- 


Special  Dona- 
tions to  be  paid 
over. 


Treasurer  oj  the 
Board. 


Triennial  Re- 
port. 


Incorporation. 


91 


€itle  III. 


Canons    4    and    5. 


I . 


Trustees  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary. 


Canon  4 . 

Of  the  Trustees  of  the  General  Theological  Seminary. 

Certificate  of  1^  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Conven- 

Nomination.  tion  of  every  Diocese  to  forward  to  the  House   of   Cler- 

ical and  Lay  Deputies,  at  every  General  Convention,  a 
certificate  of  the  nomination,  by  the  Diocese,  of  a  Trus- 
tee or  Trustees  for  the  General  Theological  Seminary  ; 
and  without  such  certificate  the  nomination  shall  not  be 
confirmed.* 


Canon 


5 


Union  with 
Church  in  an- 
other Diocese. 


No  Clergymanto 
sit   in  two  Dio- 
cesan Conven- 
tions. 

92 


Of  Congregations  and  Parishes. 

k  I.  Whereas  a  question  may  arise  whether  a  Con- 
gregation within  the  Diocese  of  any  Bishop,  or  within 
any  Diocese  in  which  there  is  not  yet  any  Bishop  settled, 
may  unite  themselves  with  the  Church  in  any  other 
Diocese,  it  is  hereby  determined  and  declared,  that  all 
such  unions  shall  be  considered  as  irregular  and  void  ; 
and  that  every  Congregation  of  this  Church  shall  be 
considered  as  belonging  to  the  body  of  the  Church  of 
the  Diocese  within  the  limits  of  which  they  dwell,  or 
within  which  there  is  seated  a  Church  to  which  they 
belong.  And  no  Clergyman,  having  a  Parish  or  Cure  in 
more  than  one  Diocese,  shall  have  a  seat  in  the  Conven- 
tion of  any  Diocese  other  than  that  in  which  he  resides.*" 


»  Canon  i.,  1847. 


»  Canon  xliii,,  1832. 


Canon     5 


§11.,  Ill 


Of  Congregations  and  Parishes. 


^  II.  [1.]  The  ascertainment  and  defining  of  the  bounda- 
ries of  existing  Parishes  or  parochial  Cures,  as  well  as 
the  establishment  of  a  new  Church  or  Congregation,  and 
forming  a  new  Parish  within  the  limits  of  any  other 
Parish,  is  left  to  the  action  of  the  several  Diocesan  Con- 
ventions, for  the  Dioceses  respectively. 

[2.]  Until  a  Canon  or  other  regulation  of  a  Diocesan 
Convention  shall  have  been  adopted,  the  formation  of 
new  Parishes,  or  establishment  of  new  Churches  or  Con- 
ffregations  witliin  the  limits  of  other  Parishes,  shall  he 

DO  ' 

vested  in  the  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  acting  by  and  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Standing  Committee  there- 
of ;  and  in  case  of  there  being  no  Bishop,  in  the  ecclesi- 
astical authority. 

[3.]  Nothing  contained  in  this  Section  shall  affect  any 
legal  rights  of  property  of  any  Parish. 

§  III.  [1.]  It  shall  be  lawful  for  persons  helonging  to 
this  Church,  but  resident  in  any  foreign  country  (other 
than  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  and  the  Colonies  and 
dependencies  thereof),  not  within  the  limits  of  any 
Foreign  Missionary  Bishop  of  this  Church,  to  organize 
as  a  Church  or  Congi-egation. 

[2.]  Such  Church  or  Congregation  shall  be  required, 
in  its  constitution,  or  plan,  or  articles  of  organization, 
to  recognize  and  accede  to  the  Constitution,  Canons, 
Doctrine,  Discipline  and  Worship  of  the  Protestant  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  United  States  of  America,  in  order 
to  its  being  received  under  the  direction  of  the  G-eneral 
Convention  of  this  Church. 

[3.]  In  order  to  such  reception,  it  shall  be  required  to 


Parish  Bounda- 
ries,   and  new 
Parishes. 


Where  Power 
vested. 


Vested  Rights 
preserved. 


Congregations  in 
Foreign  Lands. 


BItist  recognise 
Constitution,  etc. 


93 


title  III. 


Canon     5. 


I II 


Of  Congregations  and  Parishes. 


Certificate  of 
Desire  for  Re- 
ception. 


Certificate  of  Sat- 
isfaction. 


Jurisdiction  of 
Presiding  Bish- 
op. 

Power  may  be 
assigned. 


Clergymen  sub- 
ject to  the  Pre- 
siding Bishop. 


declare  its  desire  therefor,  duly  certified  by  the  Minis- 
ter, one  Church  Warden,  and  two  Vestrymen  or  Trustees 
of  said  Church  or  Congregation. 

[4.]  Such  certificate  and  the  constitution,  plan  or  ar- 
ficles  of  organization  shall  be  submitted  to  the  Greneral 
Convention  during  its  session,  or  the  Presiding  Bishop 
of  the  House  of  Bishops  at  any  other  time  ;  and  in  case 
the  same  are  found  satisfactory,  a  certificate  thereof 
shall  be  forwarded  to  and  filed  by  the  Registrar  of  the 
Church,  and  such  Church  or  Congregation  shall  thereupon 
become  subject  to  and  placed  under  the  Episcopal  gov- 
ernment and  jurisdiction  of  such  Presiding  Bishop  for  the 
time  being. 

[5.]  Such  Presiding  Bishop  may  from  time  to  time 
assign  to  any  other  Bishop  of  this  Church  having  juris- 
diction in  the  United  States,  the  exercise  of  any  Epis- 
copal power  or  functions,  in  relation  to  such  Church  or 
Congregation,  for  such  period  of  time  as  he  may  deem  ex- 
pedient. 

[6.]  The  Clergyman  settled  in  such  Church  or  Con- 
gregation shall,  in  all  respects,  be  subject  to  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Presiding  Bishop,  while  in  charge  of  such 
Church  or  Congregation. 


94 


Canon     6 . 


Of  the  Organization  of  Neio  Dioceses. 


Ca  N  0  N     6 . 
Of  the  Organization  of  New  Dioceses.^ 

§  I.  Whenever  any  new  Diocese  shall  be  formed  with- 
in the  limits  of  any  other  Diocese,  or  by  the  junction  of 
two  or  more  Dioceses,  or  parts  of  Dioceses,  and  the  same 
shall  have  been  ratified  by  the  General  Convention,  the 
Bishop  of  the  Diocese  within  the  limits  of  which  another 
is  formed,  or  in  case  of  the  junction  of  two  or  more 
Dioceses,  or  parts  of  Dioceses,  the  Bishop  of  eldest  con- 
secration over  the  Dioceses  furnishing  portions  of  such 
new  Diocese,  shall  thereupon  call  the  Primary  Conven- 
tion of  the  new  Diocese,  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  it 
to  organize,  and  shall  fix  the  time  and  place  of  holding 
the  same,  such  place  being  within  the  territorial  limits 
of  the  new  Diocese. 

h  II.  In  case  there  should  be  no  Bishop  who  can  call 
such  Primary  Convention  pursuant  to  the  foregoing  pro- 
visions, then  the  duty  of  calling  such  Convention  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing,  and  the  duty  of  fixing  the  time 
and  place  of  its  meeting,  shall  be  vested  in  the  Standing 
Committee  of  the  eldest  of  the  Dioceses,  by  the  junc- 
tion of  which,  or  parts  of  which,  the  new  Diocese  may 
be  formed.  And  such  Standing  Committee  shall  make 
such  call  immediately  after  the  ratification  of  a  division 
by  the  G-eneral  Convention. 

§  III.  Whenever  one  Diocese  is  about  to  be  divided 
into  two  Dioceses,  the  Convention  of  such  Diocese  shall 
declare  which  portion  thereof  is  to  be  the  new  Diocese, 
and  shall  make  the  same  known  to  the  General  Conven- 
tion before  the  ratification  of  such  division.*' 

»  See  the  Constitution,  Article  V,.  1856.  *•  Canon  viii.,  1838. 


Organization  of 

New  Dioceses. 


Primary  Con- 
vention. 


The  Call,  by 
whom  to  be 
made. 


When  it  intixt 
be  made. 


Division  of  a 
Diocese. 


95 


title  IV. 


Canons    1    and    2. 


Repeal  of  Re- 
peal, no  Re-en- 
actment. 


Form  of  altering 
Canons. 


title  IV. 


MISCELLANEOUS    PROVISIONS, 


Canon   1. 

Of  Repealed  Canons. 

Whenever  there  shall  be  a  repeahng  clause  in  any 
Canon,  and  the  said  Canon  shall  be  repealed,  such  re- 
peal shall  not  be  a  re-enactment  of  the  Canon  or  Canons 
repealed  by  the  said  repealing  clause." 


Canon  2. 

Of  the  Repeal,  Amendment  and  Enactment  of  New 
Canons. 

In  all  cases  of  future  enactment,  the  same,  if  by  way 
of  amendment  of  an  existing  provision,  shall  be  in  the 

following    form:    "Canon   (or    Section   of 

Canon ,  or  Clause of  Section  of  Canon 

)  of  Title ,  is  hereby  amended  so  as  to  read  as 

follows :"  And  if  the  enactment  is  of  an  additional 
Clause,  Section,  or  Canon,  it  shall  be  designated  as  the 
next  Canon,  or  next  Section,  or  next  Clause,  of  a  Canon, 
or  Section,  in  the  order  of  numbering,  of  the  Title  to  which 
the  subject  properly  belongs  ;  and  if  a  Canon  or  Section 
or  Clause  be  stricken  out,  the  existing  numbering  shall 

'  Canon  xi.,  1838. 


96 


Canon     3. 


Of  the  Time  of  these  Canons  taking  Effect. 


be  retained,  until  a  new  edition  of  the  Canons  be  di- 
rected. 

The  Committee  on  Canons  of  each  House  of  the 
Greneral  Convention  shall,  at  the  close  of  each  Session 
of  the  Greneral  Convention,  appoint  two  of  their  num- 
ber to  certify  the  changes,  if  any,  made  in  the  Canons, 
and  to  report  the  same,  with  the  proper  arrangement 
thereof,  to  the  Secretary,  who  shall  print  the  same  in 
the  Journal. 


Canon    3. 

Of  the  Time  of  these  Canons  taking  Effect. 

These  Canons  shall  take  effect  on  the  first  day  of 
January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1860 ;  from  and  after 
which  day  all  other  Canons  of  this  Church  are  hereby, 
and  shall  be  deemed  to  be,  repealed  ;  Provided  that 
such  repeal  shall  not  affect  any  case  of  a  violation  of 
existing  Canons  committed  before  that  date ;  but  such 
case  shall  be  governed  by  the  same  law  as  if  no  such 
repeal  had  taken  place. 


Who  are  to  cer- 
tify  Changes  of 
Canons. 


Time  of 
taking  Effect. 

General  Repeal, 


WILLIAM   MEADE,  D.  D., 

Presiding  in  the  House  of  Bishops. 

Attest,  L.  P.  W.  Balch,  D.  D.,   Secretary. 

WILLIAM   CREIOHTON,  D.  D., 
President  of  the  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Deputies. 

Attest,  M.  A.  De  Wolfe  Howe,  D.  D.,  Secretary. 


9-i:i:.'**^\ 


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